Chapter 83

"What? The host only mentioned lighting the bonfire, not about dancing!" Melissa feeling some embarrassment, but she can't let the situation continue to be awkward, after all, it's a grand celebration, the opening atmosphere should not be embarrassing. Melissa recalled the ethnic dances she learned as a child, casually performed a medley of ethnic dances, including Arose, Danco and Tybath dances. Melissa, a woman who has had two children, still has a youthful and beautiful appearance and figure, the allure of her dancing is captivating, even the subtle movements she held at the tips of her fingers were moving. In the slightly cold night wind, it seemed as if everywhere was filled with electric sparks, heart-stirring. Joseph quietly appreciated it from the side, with a hint of surprised admiration in his heart "This woman really has some skills!" When Melissa returned to her original position with a slight panting, Joseph felt a fleeting moment of affection, as if her flowing hair brought a faint fragrance to his face, giving him a sense of beautiful suffocation. "Mama is so beautiful, Mama is so awesome!" Melissa's little daughter, Alvina, broke free from Joseph's arms to stand beside her mother, proudly looking at her mother. "Thank you, my precious Alvina." Melissa kissed Alvina's little cheek, and the mother and daughter made up. At this time, people in the field were singing and dancing around the bonfire, happiness ignited in the darkness. "Alvina, let's go dancing too!" Alvin saw several beautiful little girls in the crowd, wanted to join the bustling fun and was already aware of how to flirt at a young age. "Okay, big brother!" Alvina held her brother's hand and walked into the crowd. As she walked, she looked back and said "Tony, Mama, Papa, why don't you come and dance too?" Joseph did not care, the dances he was used to were international couple dances, he was too lazy to participate in such a chaotic dance. Tony, in order to watch over Alvin and Alvina, also joined the crowd. At this time, a man walked up to Melissa excitedly, "Beauty, do you have a boyfriend?" He reached out a hand to Melissa "Let's dance." Melissa was just about to decline when Joseph, standing by her side, glared at the man who had recklessly invited her, and firmly pulled her by her sleeve into the crowd. "Hey, what’s this about?" Melissa asked as she trotted along, dragging her feet. "Quiet, woman, give me your hand." Replied Joseph, some resentment still visible in his eyes. He was still irked by the man who had presumed to invite Melissa to dance and was now protecting her in his own way. The bonfire party lasted a full forty minutes before gradually dispersing. Alvin and Alvina were thoroughly excited and were reluctant to return to their inn. After most of the crowd had dispersed, Melissa vaguely heard a ringtone from her slung bag. She discreetly withdrew from the crowd to answer the call. "Murphy, I've got the invitation. I wanted to tell you this morning, but I just didn't get the time" Melissa said regretfully. She had forgotten something so important, making Murphy wait in vain for another day. "When can you get me that invitation?" Murphy asked urgently. He had nagged Melissa several times already. "I'm out of town, and at the earliest, I won’t be home until tomorrow night. Please be patient" Melissa replied in a calming tone. She was looking at Joseph still by the bonfire—a sight that should be relaxing. But the minute she talked to Murphy, she felt an odd tension. "And what if you don't make it back tomorrow night?" Murphy asked, sitting alone in a rented room, twiddling a sharp dagger in the dim light. "If I can’t be back in time, meet me at the tobacco shop next to Humphrey Group's building at 8 a.m the day after tomorrow." Melissa said, hoping no other obstacles would get in the way of their plan. "Okay, it's a deal" Murphy agreed almost instinctively. A mysterious smile crept up his face; this had been long in the waiting. "Oh, by the way, why are you always so busy? I just called you seven or eight times, why did you just pick up now?" Murphy asked lazily, sounding devoid of energy—perhaps bored from being home alone and craving for some conversation. "I was dancing in the square and didn't hear my phone ring" Melissa explained. She certainly didn't want to irritate Murphy. "Well, isn’t that lively. What's that called...living the life" Murphy said in his usual raspy voice, the blade in his hand gleaming. He gently ran the blade over his arm―close enough to make each hair fall but not draw blood—the pressure was just right. "Haha, Brother Murphy, you're joking with me again." Melissa dodged the teasing, and she saw Joseph coming over with Alvina, and Tony leading Alvin towards her side. "No, I'm serious." Murphy sheathed his knife, watching each second pass by on the call timer, feeling utterly bored. Melissa quickly turned around and said quietly "Bro Murphy, I'll stop chatting with you for now. See you on Monday." "Okay." Murphy ended the call and sank back into his deep sofa. He seemed to lose his soul, blending in with the dim faded light around him. Alvin saw Melissa coming towards them from under a large tree. He hastily pulled away from Tony's hand, and rushed straight towards Melissa. “Mom, where were you just now?” Alvin raised his small head and asked, he initially wanted to spin in circles with his mother and sister. “I…I went to the bathroom.” Melissa randomly pointed in a direction. Tony burst out laughing; she was clearly pointing to a row of duck sheds. Joseph noticed that Melissa was lying but couldn’t bother to inquire about her real reason for leaving, he carried Alvina and headed for the inn. When they arrived at the inn, it was already 11 PM. Grandma Julia and Aunt Sarah had long turned in for the night. Tony asked for permission from Joseph before returning to his shared bedroom with the driver. Joseph whipped out his room card and opened the door to their family suite. He mumbled discontentedly. "This crappy ancient city doesn't even have a five-star hotel, how great it would be to book two presidential suites." Melissa led Alvin and Alvina into the family suite behind Joseph, she was extremely tired by then. “I'll take Alvina into the bath first, Alvin will be your responsibility after.” Melissa yawned and led Alvina into the bathroom. “Hey, how do I give the child a bath?” Joseph was at a loss; he had no experience being a father. “How you bathe is how you’ll bathe him.” Melissa's voice came from inside the bathroom. Joseph stood there dumbfounded, his aloof face devoid of laughter. This was the first time in his life that someone tasked him with bathing a child. "Don't worry, dad, I know how to take a bath myself." Alvin gave Joseph a thumbs-up and comforted him earnestly. "Alvin, when you call me that, I really do feel old." Joseph shook his head helplessly at Alvin.