One hour and fifteen minutes later…
Jiang Tao was already drenched in sweat on the treadmill.
But the long-awaited prompt had not appeared.
"My constitution points, did the system bro take a cut or something?"
Normally, running for an hour on the [Fitness Treadmill] would guarantee a 1-point boost to his constitution.
Today, it had already been over fifteen minutes past the hour mark, and the reward prompt still hadn't shown up.
*Swish swish swish, swish swish swish—*
Gritting his teeth, he pushed through another fifteen minutes, but the reward still didn't come.
"Phew…"
Running for an hour and a half straight was pushing the limit, even for someone with an enhanced constitution like Jiang Tao.
He adjusted his breathing, slowed his pace, and kept running for another half hour.
By the time his parents returned home from their dance session, Jiang Tao was still grinding away on the treadmill.
After a quick greeting, his parents went to freshen up.
A little while later, Xu Li, Jiang Xue, and the third sibling returned as well.
At this point, Jiang Tao had been running continuously for over two hours, yet the reward still hadn't appeared.
As soon as Jiang Bing got home, she saw her second brother shirtless, sweating profusely on the treadmill.
Curious, she leaned in to glance at the data on the machine.
Seeing that the display showed a running time of 2 hours and 16 minutes, Jiang Bing exclaimed in shock, "Second Bro, are you crazy? You've been running for over two hours tonight?"
"Are you… stuck on that thing and can't get off? Need me to rescue you?"
She couldn't help but burst into laughter after saying this.
Just the other day, there was a viral news story online about a kid who got stuck on a treadmill, too scared to stop, and ended up running for over an hour straight.
"Go, go, go, play somewhere else. I'm challenging my limits."
Jiang Tao didn't want to waste words explaining to his third sibling and waved her off like he was shooing a duck.
"Tch, tch, tch. I've heard people say running releases endorphins in the brain, making it addictive."
"Looks like you're genuinely hooked, Second Bro."
"Exercise makes me happy. You should try it sometime—it'd do you good."
"With my devilishly perfect figure, do I even need exercise?"
"I've never seen someone so shameless. You call *that* a devilish figure…"
"What's wrong with my figure? My weight is perfectly standard!"
The siblings went back and forth, bickering as usual.
But to be fair, having Jiang Bing there to distract him made running feel a bit easier for Jiang Tao.
When the treadmill's timer hit 2 hours and 49 minutes, the long-awaited reward finally appeared.
[Congratulations! You've earned 1 Constitution Point from your running exercise. Your current Constitution is 79 points (Robust).]
The moment he saw the prompt, Jiang Tao instantly deflated.
He reached out and pressed the "stop" button on the treadmill, ending today's workout.
After their banter, Jiang Bing grabbed her toiletries and headed to claim the bathroom.
Tonight, she was crashing in Jiang Xue's room again.
For some reason, she always felt sleeping at her second brother's place was cozier than at the place she shared with Jiang Yi.
So, here she was, mooching off Jiang Xue's bed again.
Jiang Tao and Xu Li didn't mind at all. She was family, after all—spoiling her came naturally.
"Honey, Nannan's asking when we're heading over to her place."
Having just put Jiang Xue to bed, Xu Li walked over to Jiang Tao with small, graceful steps, smiling as she asked.
"Let me shower first."
You don't bite the hand that feeds you. Since Jiang Tao was driving Du Ennan's Mercedes-Benz G-Class, helping her get a good night's sleep was only fair.
After the third sibling finished showering, Jiang Tao went in to wash up.
It took him less than ten minutes to rinse off and change into a new set of clothes Xu Li had prepared for him.
Xu Li looped her arms around Jiang Tao's, the two of them looking every bit the sweet, loving couple.
Before heading out, Jiang Tao activated [Sleep Mode] for his parents, Jiang Bing, and Jiang Xue.
Helping Du Ennan was important, but he couldn't neglect his own family.
From his recent experiences, Jiang Tao had found that [Sleep Mode] had numerous benefits for the body.
At 66 yuan per activation, it wasn't expensive—quite a bargain, really.
Downstairs, Jiang Tao hopped into the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and drove straight to the villa district where Du Ennan lived.
About an hour later, he parked the car outside her villa.
The nanny, who had been waiting for a while, heard the noise outside and came to escort them into the villa.
"You two finally made it! I was waiting so long, my flowers nearly wilted."
Already showered and in her pajamas, Du Ennan greeted them with a bright smile as she stood to welcome them.
Xu Li laughed, "Why don't we just move in with you? We could keep you company every day."
Du Ennan grinned, "That works for me! I've got plenty of empty rooms here. Even if Uncle Jiang and the others came, there'd be enough space."
"I was just joking, and you're taking it seriously? You really don't mind the hassle?"
"Of course I mind hassle, but you guys aren't hassle—you're my best friends."
"Hehe, by the way, Nannan, my parents and my sister are coming to Beijing the day after tomorrow. Come over for dinner, and I'll introduce you to them."
"Your parents are coming to Beijing? For a trip or to stay long-term?"
"A trip, for fun. My dad's using five days of annual leave to make a mini-vacation…"
Standing to the side, Jiang Tao was a bit speechless watching the two drift off-topic.
These two could talk nonstop all day!
They chatted until well past 11 p.m. before finally wrapping up their conversation for the night.
Afterward, Du Ennan showed them the room she had prepared for them.
"Everything in the room, except the bed, is brand new. The bedding was bought today and sent for dry cleaning."
"That set of cosmetics on the dresser is the same one I'm using. It works great, so give it a try, Lili."
"The pajamas were picked out based on my taste at the Aimer store in the mall, also dry-cleaned."
"Toothpaste, toothbrushes, and face wash are all in that little cabinet over there."
"Nannan, you're so thoughtful and thorough!"
"Hehe, you guys are my in-laws, so of course I have to treat you well!"
It took another ten minutes for Du Ennan to show Jiang Tao and Xu Li their bedroom for the night.
By 11:48 p.m., Jiang Tao followed Du Ennan back to her room.
After some perfunctory "guiding," Jiang Tao spent 66 yuan to activate [Sleep Mode] for her.
He observed for a few minutes to confirm she was asleep, then glanced at the green Submariner watch on his wrist.
It was now 12:01 a.m.—a new day had begun.
Jiang Tao didn't leave immediately.
With a thought, he opened the intelligence system to check the latest information that had refreshed today.
**[Today's Intelligence 01]:**
You had contact with Han Mei yesterday, triggering related intelligence—
Han Mei's husband, Yan Zhicheng, is keeping her niece, Han Qing, as a mistress, providing her with a monthly allowance of 60,000 yuan!
…
"What a pair! No wonder they're husband and wife—birds of a feather flock together."
"You cheat with my nephew, I keep your niece… playing a hedging game, huh?"
Seeing the first piece of intelligence about Han Mei, Jiang Tao was somewhat speechless.
Rich people sure know how to play!
Maybe for them, ordinary relationships are too easy to come by.
They can effortlessly get any handsome man or beautiful woman they want, so it's no longer thrilling.
Only these unconventional relationships can bring them a bit of excitement.
After casually indulging in the gossip about Han Mei and her husband, Jiang Tao moved on to the second piece of information with a thought.
**[Today's Intelligence 02]:**
You had contact with Jiang Yi yesterday, triggering related intelligence—
The Shanhe Culture Studio at Beijing's Huairou Film Base is casting for the short drama *Eavesdropping on Thoughts, Cute Baby Leads the Whole Family to Success*.
Jiang An'an's appearance perfectly matches the director's vision for the role, and her acting skills are up to par.
Recommending Jiang An'an for the role can officially kickstart her acting career.
You will also earn the gratitude and friendship of Jiang Yi, Jiang Hai, and Jiang An'an once again.
**[Note:]** Successfully helping Jiang An'an join the cast will grant you the [Talent Scout Title] and a cash reward of 880,000 yuan!
**[Talent Scout]:** With this title equipped, you can clearly see each person's strengths and the most suitable career path for them.
"Hmm, this task is interesting."
Seeing the second piece of intelligence, Jiang Tao's eyes lit up.
Especially when he read the note about the [Talent Scout] title and the 880,000 yuan cash reward.
This task piqued his interest even more!
"Jiang Yi's family is really bringing me good fortune!"
"The Talent Scout title is intriguing too. In the future, I can identify people's strengths and place them in the right roles."
"Another high-value intelligence worth 880,000 yuan. I'll remind Jiang Yi about it tomorrow."
"With their financial situation, after paying for their niece's treatment, they probably need this earning opportunity."
"Since Jiang An'an has talent in this area, starting down this path early isn't a bad choice."
After analyzing the second piece of intelligence, Jiang Tao excitedly moved on to the third.
**[Today's Intelligence 03]:**
You had contact with Du Ennan yesterday, triggering related intelligence—
Du Ennan will go into premature labor at 1 a.m. today and face a difficult delivery.
Sending her to the hospital promptly for observation can maximize the safety of both mother and child.
…
"What the heck?! Premature labor? And a difficult delivery?"
Seeing the content of the third piece of intelligence, Jiang Tao's pupils contracted, and his expression instantly turned tense.
His gaze instinctively fell on Du Ennan's slightly swollen belly.
This little one was really having a tough time.
Last time it was a cord around the neck, and now who knows what's going on.
As a good friend and in-law, Jiang Tao naturally wouldn't stand by in such a critical situation!
"Du Ennan, Du Ennan, Du Ennan, wake up quick!"
After quickly thinking of an excuse, Jiang Tao gently shook Du Ennan's head.
People in [Sleep Mode] are in a deep sleep state.
They sleep more deeply, with reduced awareness of their surroundings, but they're not unconscious.
So, with deliberate effort, they can be woken up easily.
"Huh? Jiang Tao? It's you!"
"You guy, why aren't you with Lili? How'd you end up in my dream?"
Du Ennan opened her eyes, saw Jiang Tao sitting by her bed, and mumbled softly.
She was still groggy, not fully awake, thinking she was still dreaming.
Jiang Tao was about to explain that this wasn't a dream and urge her to get up and go to the hospital.
"Come on, since you're here, let me borrow your arm."
Suddenly, Du Ennan's arm reached out from under the blanket, grabbed Jiang Tao's hand, pulled it to her chest, closed her eyes, and went back to sleep!
"Huh?"
"…"
Jiang Tao was caught off guard by Du Ennan's inexplicable action, torn between laughter and tears.
Feeling the soft sensation in his hand, he hadn't expected this kind of "perk" tonight.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Tao continued, "Du Ennan, stop sleeping. Get up quick and head to the hospital. I just checked your pulse, and something seems off."
As he spoke, he carefully pulled his hand out of Du Ennan's embrace.
It wasn't like he meant to take advantage of her.
He genuinely hadn't expected her to do something like that and didn't react in time to stop her.
"…"
Feeling Jiang Tao's movement and hearing his voice, Du Ennan's eyelashes trembled, and her heart skipped a beat.
Oh no!
Could it be… this wasn't a dream?
Recalling her earlier actions and that strong hand, Du Ennan's face flushed red instantly, burning with embarrassment.
Talk about ultimate awkwardness!
"Du Ennan? Are you awake? I'm not kidding—you need to go to the hospital for a checkup right now."
Hearing Jiang Tao's urgent voice again, Du Ennan couldn't keep pretending to sleep. Her eyelids fluttered, and she sat up from the bed.
"Put some clothes on quick. Lili and I will take you to the hospital. You need to be admitted immediately. Call your family too."
Seeing Du Ennan finally awake, Jiang Tao urged her again.
"What's going on, Jiang Tao? I…"
Du Ennan looked at Jiang Tao, confused. She felt fine, just like usual, with no discomfort.
"I can't explain it fully right now, but your pulse is off—way off!"
"Get dressed quick. Trust me, go to the hospital for a checkup."
"Every minute you delay is another minute of risk."
The situation was urgent, and Jiang Tao didn't have time to explain everything to Du Ennan.
The priority was getting her to the hospital as fast as possible.
"Alright, I'll change now. Wait outside for me."
Seeing Jiang Tao's anxious expression, Du Ennan didn't press for more details. She hurried out of bed, went to her wardrobe, and started looking for clothes.
Jiang Tao turned and headed for the door, leaving Du Ennan's bedroom and entering the guest room to the left where he and Xu Li were staying tonight.
As he opened the door, he saw the room was pitch black. Xu Li hadn't turned on the light, and she wasn't there.
Just as Jiang Tao wondered where Xu Li had gone, she reached out from behind a corner and pulled him inside.
The next moment, slender, fair arms wrapped around his neck, and a pair of legs locked around his waist.
Xu Li clung to Jiang Tao, her red lips diving in for a kiss.
Unlike their usual passionate exchanges, Jiang Tao only gave her a light kiss before pulling away quickly.
"Wifey, plans have changed tonight. We need to take Du Ennan to the hospital right now."
"Huh? What's wrong with Nannan?"
Hearing Jiang Tao's words, the spark of desire in Xu Li fizzled out, replaced by worry for her in-law.
Jiang Tao said directly, "While helping her sleep just now, I checked her pulse. It's not right."
"Better safe than sorry. We should get her to the hospital for a checkup."
"Oh, where is she now?"
Xu Li stepped down from Jiang Tao as she spoke.
She didn't ask how Jiang Tao knew how to check pulses.
He must've learned it from Master Sun.
"She's changing in her room. You… get dressed too."
Only then did Jiang Tao notice that Xu Li was no longer wearing the clothes she had on during the day.
All that remained was a sheer lace undergarment.
"Oh."
Xu Li nodded, slightly embarrassed, and scurried to the corner where the clothes rack was to start dressing.
Once Xu Li was ready, Du Ennan had finished changing too.
Xu Li supported Du Ennan as they went downstairs together.
Jiang Tao drove the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, carrying Xu Li and Du Ennan straight to the Xiehe Hospital where she had her regular checkups.
Halfway there, Du Ennan called her father, Du Taiming, to inform him of her situation.
Hearing that his daughter was feeling unwell and heading to the hospital in the middle of the night, Du Taiming immediately grew anxious.
He started pulling strings to make arrangements for her.
Less than three minutes after Du Ennan's call to her father, she began feeling a heavy sinking sensation in her lower abdomen, followed by pain.
At that moment, Du Ennan realized how wise it was to trust Jiang Tao.
It had been over ten minutes since Jiang Tao woke her and urged her to get dressed.
If she had waited until the pain started to leave the house, it would've meant an extra ten minutes of delay.
In just over ten minutes, Jiang Tao pulled up outside the emergency department of Xiehe Hospital.
Du Taiming had already informed the hospital of his car's license plate number.
As soon as Jiang Tao parked, several medical staff in white coats approached.
After confirming Du Ennan's identity, they skipped the usual tedious procedures.
She was wheeled directly into a VIP surgical room.
Less than ten minutes after Du Ennan was taken in, a staff member in green surgical scrubs rushed out.
"The mother is having a difficult delivery. The situation is critical, and we need to operate immediately!"
"Who is the family? We need a signature on the consent form."
"The family is on their way. Please wait a moment."
Just as Jiang Tao spoke, he heard the sound of rapid footsteps and heavy panting behind him.
Turning around, he saw it was Du Ennan's father, Du Taiming.
Jiang Tao quickly said, "Mr. Du, Du Ennan's in the emergency room. The nurse needs you to sign."
Du Taiming, like his daughter, was decisive and efficient.
He grabbed the pen from the nurse and quickly signed his name on the form.
"Use the best of everything! I want my daughter and her child safe, no matter the cost!"
"Sir, rest assured, we'll do everything we can to ensure their safety."
The nurse took back the signed consent form and hurried back into the emergency room.
After watching the nurse enter, Du Taiming steadied his breathing, turned to Jiang Tao and Xu Li, and said, "Jiang Tao, Xu Li, thank you for bringing Nannan here."
In just a few breaths, Du Taiming had regained his usual calm and composed demeanor as "Mr. Du."
Jiang Tao replied calmly, "You're too kind, Mr. Du. Du Ennan is our best friend. It's what we should do."
"I hope Nannan and the baby will be safe…"
Xu Li's gaze lingered on the emergency room, her eyes filled with worry for Du Ennan.
Though they hadn't known each other long, they had hit it off instantly and formed a deep bond.
Plus, they were now in-laws, making their connection even closer.
Seeing Du Ennan rushed into the emergency room and hearing the nurse mention a difficult delivery, Xu Li was sweating bullets for her.
A difficult delivery carried significant risks for a pregnant woman.
After brief greetings, none of them were in the mood to chat and waited silently outside the emergency room.
They couldn't do much now except pray silently for Du Ennan and her unborn child.
Jiang Tao's mind replayed the moments of meeting, getting to know, and becoming close with Du Ennan.
It felt like fate had destined their paths to cross.
Their first meeting was on the subway when he gave up his seat for the pregnant Du Ennan.
Then they ran into each other again at the Wanxiang Mall raffle.
Later, Jiang Tao received intelligence related to Du Ennan's unborn child.
And then there was that piece about her aunt embezzling company funds to keep a young lover.
And now, today's intelligence…
From strangers to becoming close in-laws, Jiang Tao's family and Du Ennan shared no small amount of fate.
Without his timely interventions, Du Ennan and her child…
Of course, Jiang Tao had no intention of holding this over her.
He had benefited plenty from Du Ennan as well.
That million-yuan Mercedes-Benz GLS issue was resolved with a "return one, compensate three" settlement, thanks to Du Ennan's company's legal team.
If Du Ennan had "unethically" claimed the compensation for herself, Jiang Tao wouldn't have had much recourse.
After all, her company had paid for the car, and their legal team handled the negotiations with the Mercedes-Benz dealership.
Faced with nearly 5 million yuan in compensation, whether Du Ennan was tempted, Jiang Tao didn't know.
But the fact was, the money ended up in his account.
From that incident onward, Jiang Tao truly began to see Du Ennan as a friend.
Xu Li gripped Jiang Tao's hand tightly, her mind filled with memories of her time with Du Ennan.
At just past 3 a.m., the emergency room doors opened, and the sound of a baby's cries echoed from inside.
"Doctor! How are the mother and child?"
Seeing the medical staff emerge, Xu Li rushed forward to ask.
The staff replied honestly, "Mother and daughter are safe. The doctor is finishing the final stitches, and they'll need to be observed for another half hour before coming out."
Hearing this, the stern expression on Du Taiming's face seemed to soften.
His daughter was out of danger, and he'd just become a grandfather.
He was naturally overjoyed but kept his emotions in check.