The Lost Mermaid [Zhongyingmei]

Doris was frightened by the body temperature for an instant, her hands and feet became cold, and she dared not move.

The strange man had a strong smell of perfume and tobacco, which immediately occupied her nostrils. This smell was completely unfamiliar to her.At this moment, Doris' body sensation became extremely clear, and she could even discern the cold touch of the man's suit buttons against her face.

The hairs on Doris' arms sprang up, trying to push the stranger away, but she didn't expect that her weak strength could hardly shake a strong adult man at all.

Doris became more and more panicked, experiencing a fear of being slaughtered for the first time.She tried to scream loudly to attract the maid, but her throat was so hoarse that she couldn't speak, and only groaned hoarsely like a cat.

The wind seemed to have stopped.

Regardless of her struggle, the man forcefully picked her up and put her on the wheelchair.

"Miss, you are so reckless! For Mr. Boardman, you shouldn't take such a risk." He straightened up and took a step back.Doris pulled the blanket to her chest, looked up at the man in front of her.

He looked older than his brother, probably in his thirties, and he wore a crisp, well-fitting suit.Her jet-black hair was scrupulously combed, and gleamed in the winter sun.Under the bushy eyebrows, a pair of deep eyes narrowed slightly, and her panicked face was reflected in the pure black pupils.The root of his nose is very straight, which makes his eyes more sunken, making it difficult to see clearly.When he was not speaking, a pair of thin lips were tightly pursed, and the corners of his mouth hung down slightly, looking very stern.

Doris was so frightened by his rigid and serious expression that she couldn't hear what he said.

The man did not receive a response, his brows were slightly frowned, and he looked back at the hotel behind him, only to see the maid staring at them dully.Seeing his reproachful expression, the maid exclaimed, ran over in a panic, and blocked Doris with her arms.

"Miss Boardman, are you okay! You, don't worry... I, I will protect you!"

The maid's voice was trembling, thinking that someone was trying to harm her mistress, she tremblingly cut off the stranger's sight.

The soft blanket slowly radiated warmth, and Doris breathed a sigh of relief in the shadow of the maid's baggy robe.She was just about to speak, but she noticed that the stranger's concerned eyes crossed the maid's thin shoulders and cast her lower body in the wheelchair all the way.

Doris didn't know why, but her heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

Feeling ashamed inexplicably, she tugged at the blanket to cover her obviously defective leg.She was speechless, maybe his eyes were too eager, maybe she finally started to be afraid of other people's strange eyes.Doris felt that her throat was dry like never before, and she covered her neck, which was exposed in the air, with her right hand, and couldn't wait to pour herself a glass of warm water.

"You can't talk?" The man showed a clear expression, then he took another step back, looked at the maid and spread his hands, "I have no ill intentions towards Miss Boardman. I'm here to visit Mr. Boardman . . . Mr. Prior told me that Mr. Danny Boardman lives here."

The maid was skeptical and looked back at the hostess uncertainly, only to see Doris nodded slightly at her.

"Mr. Boardman left early in the morning and will not be back until evening. Sir, I can leave a letter for you and hand it over to Mr. Boardman when he returns." The maid then put down her arms and was very polite salute him.

The man raised his chin, and the corners of his mouth were habitually pressed down, looking very dissatisfied.He picked up the pocket watch from his chest, glanced at it, and thought for a moment without speaking.Soon, there was a roar of cars outside the fence. Doris thought that her brother had returned, and looked over hopefully, but was disappointed to find another strong and tall stranger standing at the gate of the garden. The entourage of the man in front of him bowed to them from a distance.

"I leave a letter, please give it to Mr. Danny Boardman." He took out a pen from his breast pocket, and the maid cleverly ran to the window sill of the villa and tore off a piece of paper written by the former tenant. Paper for sketching.

Without the cover of the maid, Doris clearly occupied his sight.

"I'm Carl Hockley, you may have heard of me." He raised the corner of his lips slightly, trying to make himself appear gentle and polite, "I heard that Mr. Boardman intends to compete with me for the heart of the ocean, he must be for You."

Doris looked away, looked at his rose-colored bow tie, and nodded imperceptibly.

"Now I understand why Mr. Boardman must compete with me. The heart of the ocean is a perfect match for your eyes." His voice became soft, and Doris' ears were itchy.

This sounded like flirting, but Doris couldn't bring up too much anger.Now she summoned up her courage and looked up into the eyes of the person in front of her. The famous playboy seemed to be used to saying those sweet sweet words. Although the language was a bit frivolous and straightforward, there was no disgusting greed in his eyes.

Doris didn't know whether she should be relieved or angry.Beauty and singing voice have always been the greatest weapons of a mermaid, but now she has lost her beautiful voice, and now she can't plunder the love of an ordinary human?

The maid hurried back and handed over the note.Carl Hockley resumed his mean-spirited capitalist demeanor, took the note, frowning as if he disliked the shabbyness of the paper.After writing a few lines in a hurry, he folded two layers, held it between his fingers, and handed it to the maid.

Doris thought to herself, this man really does not treat his servants with amiable attitude when he sees people ordering food.

Before she could continue to complain, he waved, and the attendants waiting at the gate of the garden followed, and handed him a flat and wide box, with pink and gold-dusted ties tied into a big bow.He didn't take it, and pointed to the maid with the pen.

"Miss Boardman, this is a gift from me, please be sure to accept it. The heart of the ocean is a contest between me and Mr. Boardman. A beautiful lady like you is not my enemy." He offered it in a few words Qin Qin, "However, I am sure to win the heart of the ocean."

Doris looked at the gift box silently, she was not willing to accept this "shabby" gift, she didn't care about anything else, the heart of the ocean was her goal.The famous Carl Hockley in front of her clearly wanted to use her treasures in exchange for the heart of the rose in the Bookett family, and she was unwilling to accept it no matter the reason.

Cal Hockley, seeing that she was unhappy, also put away his smile.But he still maintained his etiquette and bid farewell to Doris.Doris hurriedly tugged at the corner of the maid's skirt to ask her to return the gift box, but Carl Hockley was not willing to take it back.

"Miss, there is no reason to take back the gift I gave you - if you don't like it, you can throw it away at will. Lovejoy, drive." Hockley ordered coldly, and then he led his entourage step away.

This man is really unreasonable and overbearing!Does she have to accept the gift he gave?What's more, he just wanted to "bribe" her to let her give up the heart of the ocean.However, to use money to buy back her own things, this matter itself is enough to make her angry!

She manipulated the wheelchair and followed, but how could she catch up with two able-bodied men?Hockley stepped into the car with long legs, and before closing the door, his black eyes met hers again, and he smiled indiscernibly, and then closed the door with a "bang".

The car roared and drove away quickly.

The exhaust of the car rumbled up the dry grass on the side of the road. Doris managed to take a few deep breaths, only to realize that her face was already steaming with heat!I don't know whether to be ashamed or angry.

Cal Hockley sat in the rickety car, the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously.

From the car's mirror, he saw the slender and thin girl staring angrily at the direction they were leaving, as if she wanted to throw a stone at him, but she didn't feel offended, and even wanted to provoke her again, let her The face became redder.

He didn't know what to think of, and a pleasant low laugh came out of his throat.

"Sir, I haven't seen you so relaxed and happy for a long time." Spicer Choiloff held the steering wheel firmly with both hands, and saw a faint smile on his master's mouth from the rearview mirror.

"If you want me to say, why do you have to marry Miss Bucket? Even I can see that she doesn't love you, but Mrs. Bucket loves the money in your pocket more." After hesitating for a moment, Joey Love , and still said it, even though he knew it would displease Mr Hockley Jr.

Sure enough, the smile on the corner of Hockley's mouth froze instantly, the corners of his lips twitched, and the veins on his forehead suddenly bulged.

If it wasn't for the fact that his father had repeatedly emphasized that he had given him an ultimatum that he must marry a noble wife and return home, he would not be willing to show his face to curry favor with a proud woman.Ruth Bukett was indeed pretty, but what he valued more was that empty noble status.

Mrs. Bucket was a wise man, and implied in her words that if he married Ruth, the title of lordship would fall into his hands.And the price is their debts.A few million is indeed a big trouble for the two women, but for him, it is just the price of a business.

However, Ruth Bukett did not give face.

She seemed to be doing it on purpose, insisting on showing a coerced and humiliated expression.It seems that he insists on being taken advantage of!

But after all, she was no match for her mother, and she had to face up to her own debts. This was Carl Hockley's biggest bargaining chip.A woman from aristocratic family, still dreaming that she can work as a female worker in a factory, and pay off the debts that she has not paid off in decades?Even if she wanted to, Mrs. Bucket would not have tolerated being impotently kicked out of the estate, out of society.

Their delicate throats could no longer swallow the rough bread.

Before today, Cal Hockley was full of ambition. Although he was very displeased with Ruth's attitude of resisting and disgusting, he knew that this woman could be bought with money, and a priceless Heart of the Ocean was enough to make All women are heartbroken.Even if she can't get her obedience, she can't escape from his palm.

But just now, after seeing those eyes that were clearer and bluer than the heart of the ocean, he changed his mind.

"I have other plans. Joe Love."

Chouilov wanted to persuade him to say something more, but was interrupted indifferently by his master: "Do your part. You don't have to report everything to my father about the British affairs." His dark eyes were like Like an eagle's talons, he firmly caught the probing eyes of his entourage in the rearview mirror.

"Who is the mistress of the Hockley family, only I have the final say."

For some reason, Doris didn't want to tell her brother who she met in the garden today.

She returned to the room with the gift box in her arms, threw it viciously on the table in front of the window, snorted coldly, and looked away.She manipulated the wheelchair and came to another corner of the room, where a piano had been placed early. The life of 1900 is the piano. Every time they go to a place, they have to prepare a piano in their respective rooms, which is convenient for creation and practice.

Doris didn't have those exquisite technical skills, but she was born with a wonderful sense of music.When she was in the sea, even if she casually hummed an irregular tune, it was the sound of nature.It's a talent she's proud of.

Today, her piano sound is very restless.

Doris is tortured and distraught by the man named "Carl Hockley".She rarely has physical contact with strangers, let alone a strange man!As soon as he came, he accused her of being "too reckless", but if he hadn't appeared suddenly and startled her, how could she have fallen down!

Blame him!

Doris angrily smashed her ten fingers at the piano. With a sound of "嗡——", the piano made a violent thunderous sound.

Doris was furious, but her inner fish swam happily about, gleefully accusing her of insincerity.After fidgeting to play the whole impromptu piece, Doris lay down on the piano keys and buried her face in her arms weakly.

The heartbeat at that moment was not fake.

Even though she didn't want to admit it, she also...couldn't deny that she didn't feel the smell of tobacco, perfume and unique temperature on that person, otherwise, how could her heartbeat suddenly become as fast as a human being, and her face Getting hot and red in the cold wind?

Doris opened her eyes, and saw her pure black curly hair coiled and stacked on the black and white piano keys, the sunlight fell on her body through the window, the black hair and the black keys reflected a silver luster, like— —

Like that person's eyes.

Doris groaned in pain, and stood up, but her eyes couldn't help but glance at the gift box that was randomly thrown on the table.She listened intently, the maid was busy lighting a fire in the kitchen and preparing today's lunch.

Doris rowed her wheelchair and slowly came to the table.The big bow of the gift box had come loose, and Doris tore off the silk ribbon covered in gold powder, and threw it on the ground.She put the gift box on her lap, and was about to open it, but froze again.

"I made it clear that I don't want his gift!" Doris bit her lip and said to herself, "Hmph, I don't care about it!"

After thinking for a moment, she stuffed the gift box at the bottom of the cabinet.The heavy cabinet door was slowly closed, and Doris breathed a sigh of relief.

"Unless he—" Doris covered her mouth and patted her face angrily. 'I will not accept any gift from him, and it is impossible for me and him to have a relationship other than a stranger.Don't make it hard for your brother, Doris. ' she told herself.

The day of the auction is coming soon.

With the help of the maid, Doris changed out of her clothes for going out. Under the huge wide-brimmed hat, the black lace grid blocked most of her face, leaving only a small rosy mouth and a pointed chin.

"Many people will participate in the auction today." After 1900 carried her into the car, "If you feel uncomfortable, you must tell me directly." Due to the special nature of her body, Doris is another girl, He would always be looked at openly or secretly by people, and even he couldn't bear the look of pity and contempt in his eyes.

"It's okay, I'm used to it. Brother, I, I also brought some pearls, if you don't have enough money—"

"Don't say such things, Doris." 1900 reached out and wanted to rub her head, but suddenly found that she was wearing a hat that almost covered her face, so he withdrew his hand, "I just Want you to be happy."

Doris nodded obediently.

The car soon arrived at the auction hall. The smell of horse manure and the tail of the car was getting stronger, and the voices of people were getting louder and louder.

Not all rich people are willing to take a car, and there are very few ancient aristocratic families, in order to show the glory of their ancestors, they sit in a carriage with a family emblem to show their unique status.It's like there are still many manors that haven't been connected to electricity. The young people accept it well, but the old ladies especially feel that the electric lights are too dazzling.

1900 jumped out of the car skillfully, took out the wheelchair from the back seat, stretched out his arms, and hugged Doris out of the car.

As usual, as soon as their strange combination appeared, it attracted everyone's attention.The well-dressed gentlemen and ladies were far away, talking in twos and threes in front of the auction hall, and squinting at them from the corner of their eyes.Occasionally, bursts of laughter erupted from the crowd, and 1900 hated the people on the ground even more.

Doris' eyes were unobstructedly searching through the crowd through the screen.