The Lost Mermaid [Zhongyingmei]

London Docks, January 1912.

The giant ship broke down slowly, and gradually approached the ferry amidst loud cheers and sirens.Cheers broke out on the shore and on the ship, and the deck was crowded with people. Young people in the third class cabin climbed on the railing, screaming and waving at their relatives and friends on the shore.The distinguished first-class guests wore thick woolen overcoats, and proudly raised their chins to look at the stirring crowd.

Doris was sitting in a wheelchair, with a thick dark purple velvet blanket draped over her legs. She was pushed out of the private room of the cruise ship restaurant by the man behind her. The wheels made a small dull sound on the exquisite Turkish carpet.

She squinted her eyes under the rare and dazzling winter sun, and when the people behind her noticed it, they stepped back slightly, so that her eyes were once again hidden under the shadow of the decorative parasol.

"I want to touch the sunshine, Danny." She spoke with difficulty, and her hoarse and low voice made passing men look sideways.However, Doris had long been used to such rude scrutiny, and she didn't take it seriously at all, her eyes were full of the lively crowd and their almost out-of-control joy.

The man patted the back of the wheelchair without any objection, and slowly pushed her into the sun.A brisk smile appeared on the corner of Doris's mouth, her blue eyes glistened like sea water in the sun, and a playful dimple appeared on her cheek.

He looked at the shore, his gray-green eyes unfocused.His original name was 1900, and this name was deeply buried in his memory.A year ago, he chose to sleep in the sea with the Virginia, but when the string of consciousness was almost broken, he was captured by an immature mermaid.

She has an innocent appearance, but her singing voice is like a fairy—she is indeed a sea monster—for some reason, he heard her singing faintly, and suddenly didn't want to die so simply.All kinds of past flashed before the eyes one by one: adoptive father Danny's dark and rough face with a pair of gentle eyes, first love Miss Padovan's hasty glance, rival Jerry Morton's provocation and friend Max's hoarse shout.

From then on, Doris has a melancholy human guest in the palace under the sea. He imitates the story of One Thousand and One Nights and tells the story "on the ground" to the little mermaid who doesn't know the world.Stories mixed with love, desire, hatred, and greed make Doris full of longing for the ground.

She finally drank the last poison left by the sea witch a hundred years ago when the sun rose one day—she exchanged her heaven-sent beautiful singing voice for a pair of legs.The fish tail shining with coral luster was split, and she finally had a human appearance, but once she tried to stand up, her toes were like spikes.

Doris and her captives came to the land as "brothers and sisters". Before 1900 had time to adapt to this smooth but never-before-stepped ground, he realized that this was not the world he used to be in—"1900" was his world. The year of his birth, but it was 1911 at this time. In the original world, he had just celebrated his first full ten years of birthday lively and lonely with the company of the piano.

Doris doesn't care about these things, she never understands the sophistication of the world, and she can't see the astonishment and panic of "brother".In short, in 1900, under the pseudonym Danny Boardman—the name of his adoptive father—took Doris to North America.With his superb piano skills and excellent talent, as his friends expected, he became famous in the American music circle in 1900. Countless rich men and ladies spent a lot of money just to get a ticket for Danny's private concert. tickets.

A year passed like water, until a month ago, they received an invitation letter from the White Star Shipping Company to participate in the maiden voyage of the new passenger ship "Titanic".

"boom--"

The giant wheel under him did not know what it touched, and it trembled violently.

1900 was very calm. He firmly grasped the back of the wheelchair, avoiding the elegant women around him who almost fell on Doris.The lady smiled apologetically and covered the thick mink coat on her shoulders. She was about to thank you when she heard the cold voice of the young man in front of her:

"Ready to disembark, Doris."

Doris slid the wheelchair, looking around in the crowd blankly.There were people coming and going in the port, the cries of small vendors selling goods, the cries of parting people, and the affectionate confessions of reunited lovers, but she couldn't find her brother.As soon as we got off the boat, 1900 was surrounded by fans who came here admiringly. For some reason, Doris was scattered by the crazy female students.

She was manipulating the wheelchair and was going to hide in a place with few people, so that her brother could see her at a glance. As soon as she arrived at the market at the port, Doris was stopped by a handsome young man who claimed to be a painter. I want to draw a portrait of her for free to practice.

"Are you really a painter? Painters are always covered in paint, but you..." Doris looked at him suspiciously.

Hearing her hoarse and tearing voice, the young man was taken aback for a moment, then came back to his senses in embarrassment.

"I can't afford paint." The blond-haired, blue-eyed young man grinned big, and he looked at the girl without fear, from her shiny black curly hair, fair face and shimmering silk dress It can be seen that this must be a lady from a wealthy family who is not familiar with the world. "I draw with charcoal, here. Believe me, I will definitely draw you beautifully."

He waved the charcoal pencil in his hand, and stretched out a pair of hands covered in gray-black powder.

Doris wrinkled her nose. She was always very clean, and it was hard for her to accept being smudged and charcoaled on rough paper.What's more, who knows if he is a liar!

She wanted to steer the wheelchair backwards, but in the next second she caught a glimpse of the drawing board next to the young man. A piece of drawing paper was not fixed properly, and a corner was exposed - on it was the face of a smiling woman.

"Who is she?" She held out a finger.

"My mother." The young man shrugged, took out the piece of paper and handed it to her.

Doris hesitated for a moment, but still took the drawing paper.The face of the woman in the painting is quite similar to that of a young man. She leans on the bed and looks lovingly at the baby in her arms.

I have to say that the young man's painting skills are really excellent, even though he didn't use heavy ink and color to render, just using three colors of black, white and gray is enough to make Doris feel the nostalgia and tenderness in his paintings.

This was beyond her expectation—is he really a painter?

Doris stared boldly into the young man's eyes, which were the same sea blue as hers: "You paint really well! Well, I believe you are a painter! I allow you to paint for me." She bit Lower lip, looking at his worn coat, hesitantly said, "If you draw well, I will give you a lot of tips."

The young man laughed loudly, took the portrait of his "mother", put it in the drawing board, and pulled out a new piece of paper from the last page.He sat cross-legged on the ground, took off the hook pen from his ears, and drew lightly on the paper.

Doris gave a stiff smile.

Even with the sun peeking through the clouds today, the weather in London in January is anything but pleasant.The sea breeze blew on her face mercilessly with heavy moisture, and within a few minutes, Doris couldn't help but sneezed loudly.

"Ah - sneeze -"

Doris rubbed her nose, and her sea-blue eyes immediately overflowed with tears.She was sitting in a wheelchair, wrapping herself tightly with her arms, her nose was red, and she looked like a wet kitten, very pitiful.

The young man scratched his nose, took off his only thick overcoat and put it on the armrest of the wheelchair, then continued to draw with his head down.A gust of cold wind blew by, and he couldn't help shivering.

The young man kept moving his hands, and soon a slim silhouette appeared on the paper.

Doris looked at the coat at hand, feeling a little disgusted with its dirtiness, but it was so cold this day, she couldn't help but covet the little bit of warmth.Since becoming a human, her body has become weaker than normal.When her forehead got hot after playing in the rain for the first time, she thought she was fish steaks on a frying pan!

Doris' fingers trembled slightly, carefully touching the brown coat, and slowly pulling it to her legs.She pursed her lips and knitted her brows.The young man pretended not to see it, lowered his head and smiled.

Seeing that he didn't look up at her, Doris finally felt relieved.

"Can you draw without looking at me?" After a long silence, Doris finally couldn't help asking.

The young man finally raised his head: "No problem, I'm almost done." The pen tip made a rustling sound on the rough drawing paper.

"Can I take a look?"

"Of course." The young man handed in the manuscript that was about to be completed.

Doris leaned out and leaned her head.The eyebrows of the girl in the painting are completely similar to her own, her brows are slightly frowned, the tip of her small nose is slightly raised, her smile is half a smile, and her long curly hair hangs over her chest.Instead of drawing her wheelchair and legs, he added a shiny fishtail for her!

"Huh?" Doris was taken aback and gasped.

Did he...

The young man took back the drawing board and said unintentionally: "I don't know why, when I saw you, I thought of the story that the dean often told us - the daughter of the sea. You've heard it before, right?"

Doris froze and didn't reply.

"I added a 'mermaid tail' to you without permission, I hope you don't mind, I just hope you can swim around freely like a fish." The young man smiled softly, "Being trapped in a wheelchair doesn't mean you You can't have it! Miss, I understand why you have a ray of sadness between your brows, but let me tell you, there are countless unlucky people in this world, and I don't even have money for food today! At least you don't need to worry Where is the meal..."

"You are right, sir." Doris suddenly heard a familiar voice, she turned her head, and 1900 finally got rid of her suitor and appeared behind her. He looked at the young painter defensively, "I am very I would like to have a glass of wine and chat with you, but it is getting late and my sister is blowing a cold wind, I am afraid I will have a headache again tonight..."

The painter got up neatly, not minding the man's indifference and defensiveness.

"Miss, is he your brother?" He observed the strange man's expression and asked.

Doris nodded, seeing that he casually put the charcoal pencil behind his ear and closed the drawing board, knowing that he was about to leave. 1900 looked at the young man in front of him coldly, seeing that he looked relaxed and did not want to blackmail as expected, so he slowly relaxed his tightly pursed lips and thanked him in a low voice.

The young man planned to leave after cleaning up quickly.

"Wait!" Doris called out to him, "Your clothes..."

"Ah! I actually forgot, thank you, lovely Miss Mermaid." The young man turned his head and blinked at her, "Remember my words."

The young man didn't wait for her answer, turned around and left. He hung his coat casually on his shoulders, held the drawing board in his left hand, and walked towards the bustling crowd in the port.

Doris yelled: "What's your name? My painting is still in your place!" Because of too much force, her throat was torn and hurt, and even the voice she made was sharp and hoarse, she really didn't look like a young girl. The voice of a girl.The waifs passing by around her shrieked and pointed at her.

"Jack!" The young man turned around and showed a big smile. While walking backwards, he waved the clothes in his hand to say goodbye to her, "I haven't finished the painting yet. If there is a chance, I will give it to you when we meet again." You!" Jack's blond hair was particularly dazzling in the setting sun, and soon he deftly disappeared into the crowd.

"Doris, I must apologize to you, just now..."

"It's okay, the female students are too enthusiastic, it's not your fault." Doris wrapped her clothes tightly, "It just so happened that I also met a lovely friend."

1900 was noncommittal, stood at the vent, blocked the sea breeze for her, pushed her wheelchair and walked slowly towards the car that she had already reserved by the side of the road: "You trust others too easily, Doris. People on land are too complicated , too cunning. If possible, I would rather stay at the bottom of the sea, but you yearn for cities and people."

"Humans are fun, Danny."

Just as Doris finished speaking, she choked on the wind in her throat, and her face flushed from coughing.

"Yes, I don't deny it. But, I don't want you to be fooled—especially the opposite sex, my dear. That kid just now is too clever."

"Ahem." Doris took out a handkerchief from her side and covered her mouth and nose, "Jack's soul is very clean, I can feel it, just like you."

1900 didn't argue with her anymore, they had had this kind of conversation countless times.

They reached the car in no time, and the driver jumped out of the driver's seat and graciously opened the rear door. 1900 fended off his enthusiastic hand, and personally helped Doris to sit in the car. The wheelchair was put away and fixed behind the car; 1900 sat beside her, even though he was already in the car, his His muscles were tense, and he watched the driver in the front seat vigilantly from the corner of his eye.

The driver enthusiastically picked up a brand new newspaper from the co-pilot, and handed it to the guest behind him: "Sir, I have already bought the Times you want!" 1900 took the newspaper, thanked him, and handed him a tip.After the driver happily took it, he drove the car steadily and set off in the direction of the hotel.

1900 turned sideways to read the newspaper in the afterglow of the setting sun, and the smell of ink hit his face.The headline on the front page is a line of eye-catching characters - "Who will win? The Prill Auction House is about to stage a battle for the 'Heart of the Ocean'!"

"Heart of the Ocean?" Doris tilted her head, looked at the large characters on the front page, and read out in doubt.

"Miss! Are you also interested in the Heart of the Ocean?" The driver in the front seat took the conversation, his tone filled with excitement and envy, "It is said that the 'Heart of the Ocean' is a heart-shaped blue diamond, which is priceless. It used to be a collection of the royal family! I don’t know which tycoon can take such a treasure, maybe it will be your guest on the same boat. You know, the United States is full of gold, and Americans have a lot of money!”

1900 raised his eyebrows, and he shook the newspaper, revealing the folded picture.

In a sturdy glass case, a huge heart-shaped blue diamond lies quietly on the velvet interlining. Even a black and white photo can hardly conceal its amazing beauty. Under the spotlight of the reporter, the finely cut surface shines With a sharp and noble light.

Doris caught her breath and clung to her brother's arm uncontrollably.

"what happened?"

He turned his head and saw Doris's eyes fixed on the newspaper in his hand.Her face turned red, as if she was about to suffocate, and 1900 was taken aback.Doris let go of one hand, pointed to the pattern on the newspaper, and said firmly, "It's mine!"

Before he could speak, the uncle driver laughed again: "Sure enough, no noble lady can resist such jewelry! However, you may be disappointed, my friend told me that his new employer is also interested in 'Heart of the Ocean' It is inevitable!"

"Who is it? Who wants to steal my things!" Doris stared at his mouth through the reflector above the driver's head.

"Karl Hockley, the only son of the steel baron."