Jiangjiazhuang is less than 4 kilometers from the Qisan Reservoir.
It takes only a dozen minutes to drive there.
Intelligence indicates there are 20 minutes left before Bai Yulan falls into the lake.
Jiang Tao can absolutely make it if he leaves now.
The situation is urgent, and he doesn't have time to check the remaining two pieces of intelligence.
He hurriedly puts on his clothes, grabs the car keys from the TV cabinet, and rushes out the door.
The Mercedes G-Class parked outside lights up its headlights, instantly illuminating the darkness ahead.
Jiang Tao starts the car and heads straight for the Qisan Reservoir.
At night, the rural roads are deserted, with not a single car in sight, allowing him to drive unobstructed.
In less than 10 minutes, Jiang Tao arrives at the riverbank of the Qisan Reservoir.
During the Qingming Festival holiday, the Qisan Reservoir attracts many tourists and anglers every day.
During the daytime, it's as lively as a temple fair.
Some tourists who prefer tranquility choose to come here at night for fishing, enjoying the peace of the night.
Bai Yulan is one of them.
She doesn't like crowds and prefers to be alone.
Whenever she feels stressed or upset, her only way to unwind is fishing, especially night fishing.
After finishing a day's work, she drives alone to the Qisan Reservoir.
After paying the fee, she deliberately chooses a spot far from other anglers to fish alone.
*Croak, croak, croak~*
*Plop, plop, plop~*
Listening to the frog calls from the reeds by the shore and the occasional splashing sounds on the water.
Looking at the crescent moon reflected in the reservoir.
Feeling the river breeze brushing over her skin.
Bai Yulan feels as if she has entered the legendary state of "clarity of mind."
She feels perfectly in harmony with nature, becoming a part of it.
All the worries from work and life seem to be carried away by the evening breeze.
"Phew, this is probably my fate. Let it be…"
Taking a deep breath, Bai Yulan feels refreshed, her mind much clearer.
After sitting for a while, she suddenly feels the urge to urinate.
She quickly secures her fishing rod to the tackle box.
As Bai Yulan stands up, she suddenly feels dizzy, the world spinning around her!
The next second, her body stiffly falls backward, plunging into the water with a *plop*!
*Plop, plop, plop~*
"Ugh, help, help~~"
Instinctively, Bai Yulan starts thrashing in the water to save herself, crying out for help.
In her panic, her flailing doesn't bring her closer to the shore but instead takes her farther away.
At this moment, a terrifying thought rises in her mind.
It's over. She's going to die today!
When night fishing, she deliberately chose a quiet spot with few people.
The nearest angler is over a hundred meters away.
They might not even hear her cries for help.
In just a few seconds, Bai Yulan has swallowed several mouthfuls of water, feeling the air in her lungs dwindling.
It's early April, and the nighttime temperature is only about 11 or 12 degrees Celsius.
Falling into the cold lake water, her body quickly loses heat, and combined with extreme fear, her calves start to cramp uncontrollably.
The cramp makes things even worse.
Just as Bai Yulan despairs, thinking she's done for today.
In the darkness, a tall figure rapidly approaches her.
Someone is coming to save her!
"Help, help…"
After despair, seeing hope again, Bai Yulan feels an urge to cry.
She doesn't care if it's real or a hallucination, hurriedly shouting for help again, swallowing more water.
*Plop!!!*
Jiang Tao, who has rushed to the scene, jumps into the water without hesitation.
*Splash, splash, splash—*
Jiang Tao has swum in rivers since childhood and is a decent swimmer.
In less than ten seconds, he reaches Bai Yulan from behind.
Jiang Tao extends his left arm under her armpit, lifting her head and face out of the water.
Though not a professional lifeguard, he has some experience with rescuing drowning people.
*Splash, splash, splash—*
After successfully reaching Bai Yulan, Jiang Tao uses a sidestroke to swim toward the shore.
With his physical strength now exceeding 90 points, his strength is remarkable.
Dragging someone as petite as Bai Yulan is effortless.
From the moment Bai Yulan fell into the water to when Jiang Tao carries her to the riverbank, the entire process takes less than a minute.
But for Bai Yulan, this minute is the most thrilling and longest of her life.
*Huff, huff, huff…*
Having survived, Bai Yulan gasps for air.
Only those who have experienced a near-death moment know how precious it is to breathe freely.
"Ma'am, do you need to go to the hospital?"
Jiang Tao looks at Bai Yulan with concern and asks.
At this moment, Bai Yulan's upper body is leaning against Jiang Tao.
Their position is somewhat intimate.
But Bai Yulan, still shaken and physically weak, doesn't care about these small details.
While speaking, Jiang Tao takes a moment to look at Bai Yulan, whom he has just rescued.
Her fair, oval face has perfectly proportioned features.
Her soaked clothes cling tightly to her body, outlining her perfect figure.
Bai Yulan, true to her name.
Her first impression on Jiang Tao is like a magnolia flower carefully nurtured by time.
When it quietly blooms, it exudes a subtle yet lingering sweet fragrance.
Though her expression is slightly panicked and frightened, it doesn't diminish her beauty.
Bai Yulan's appearance has an ageless quality.
She looks like a young woman in her thirties, yet also like an elegant lady in her forties.
The unique aura she carries, refined by years of experience, is hard to replicate without a wealth of life experience.
"No need for the hospital. Thank you for saving me just now. My name is Bai Yulan. What's your name, young man?"
Bai Yulan, having weathered many storms, quickly recovers from the shock of drowning, her expression regaining composure.
Realizing their position is somewhat inappropriate, she gently shifts forward, creating some distance.
"My name is Jiang Tao, from Jiangjiazhuang nearby."
Jiang Tao cheerfully shares his name.
He didn't drive here in the middle of the night and jump into the water to save someone just to be an anonymous hero.
"Nice to meet you, Jiang Tao. Let me introduce myself again. I'm Bai Yulan, the owner of the Bai Yulan Restaurant in Ping County."
"I owe you my life today. If you ever need anything, come find me at the restaurant."
"And from now on, whether you dine alone or treat others at my restaurant, it's on the house."
After standing up, Bai Yulan looks at Jiang Tao and makes a solemn promise.
"The Bai Yulan Restaurant? The most upscale one in Ping County is yours?"
Playing along, Jiang Tao pretends to be surprised, acting as if he didn't know.
"Yes, the restaurant is named after me."
Bai Yulan nods, openly admitting it.
"Free meals whether I go alone or with others?"
"Ms. Bai, aren't you afraid I'll bring a bunch of people to eat for free every day?"
Jiang Tao smiles and asks in a joking tone.
Of course, he's just teasing Bai Yulan to lighten the mood.
Even if she meant it, he wouldn't feel right bringing a group to eat for free every day.
"Compared to the fact that you saved my life, that's nothing."
Bai Yulan looks at Jiang Tao with sincere eyes.
Only someone who has walked through the gates of death knows the value of life.
"No need to keep mentioning saving your life; it's making me a bit embarrassed."
"I was just doing what's right. I believe anyone would've stepped up."
Jiang Tao smiles, his expression calm and composed.
Though his goal was to connect with Bai Yulan, he genuinely didn't intend to hold it over her.
"Let's add each other on WeChat, Jiang Tao. You look about thirty. I'm a bit older, so you can call me Sister Bai from now on."
As she speaks, Bai Yulan takes out a phone from a box next to her tackle box and opens the add-friend interface.
"Sounds good. It's my good fortune to meet a big boss like Sister Bai."
Jiang Tao smiles politely, pulling a soaked phone from his pocket.
Fortunately, modern phones have decent waterproofing, and it still works fine.
He opens the WeChat app, scans the QR code on Bai Yulan's phone, and they successfully add each other as friends.
"Achoo!"
After adding him, Bai Yulan suddenly sneezes.
The nighttime temperature is only 11 or 12 degrees, and with her clothes completely soaked, it's no surprise she's cold.
"Sister Bai, your clothes are wet. You should go change. Are you okay on your own? Need me to drive you?"
Jiang Tao also feels a chill and asks with concern.
"No need to trouble you, Jiang Tao. I can manage. Thanks for tonight. I'm heading back now."
Bai Yulan's voice trembles slightly, clearly from the cold.
Jiang Tao doesn't insist, nodding, "Alright, Sister Bai, drive safely."
"This fishing gear—if you don't mind that I've used it, it's yours as a meeting gift. If you don't like it, you can give it to someone else."
Bai Yulan glances at the fishing gear by the riverbank, worth over 60,000 yuan, a gift from someone else. She has no interest in dealing with it now.
Jiang Tao laughs, "Sister Bai, you're too kind. You go ahead. I'll pack it up for you and drop it off tomorrow."
"Thanks for the trouble. I'll head back to change now and properly thank you tomorrow."
Bai Yulan, not one to be coy, is freezing. After speaking, she turns and leaves with a confident stride.
Jiang Tao watches her walk about ten meters before turning to pack up her fishing rod.
*Swish, swish, swish~*
"Huh, a fish is hooked!"
As Jiang Tao lifts the rod, he discovers a fish the size of an adult's arm hooked on it—an unexpected bonus.
Meanwhile, Bai Yulan hurries back to a Range Rover parked by the riverbank.
Once inside, she starts the car and waits about three minutes before turning on the heater.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~*
Feeling the warm air from the vents, Bai Yulan's body temperature gradually returns to normal.
Her bluish-purple lips slowly regain their color.
Sitting in the driver's seat, her mind replays the moments of struggling in the lake.
Though she's puzzled by Jiang Tao's sudden appearance, her overwhelming feeling is gratitude.
Regardless of why or how he was there, he saved her life, pulling her back from the brink of death.
"Jiang Tao…"
"Jiangjiazhuang."
Recalling their conversation, Bai Yulan's intuition and vast experience with people tell her something.
Jiang Tao doesn't seem like someone with ulterior motives.
His tone and behavior give off a trustworthy vibe.
Moreover, his face has an honest, "peaceful and prosperous" look.
Handsome and upright, his appearance is quite attractive to women.
Jiang Tao's features perfectly match the traditional "three courts and five eyes" standard.
Not overly chiseled, but harmonious and dignified overall.
If he were in a TV drama, he'd be the quintessential upright male lead.
"Making a new friend is a silver lining in this disaster."
Bai Yulan has few friends, but she feels a good impression of Jiang Tao and wants to try befriending him.
After about ten minutes of warm air, her body temperature fully recovers.
Through the window, Bai Yulan takes one last look at the reservoir.
Today's experience has left her with a lingering fear of water, and her interest in fishing has plummeted.
"Fishing is too dangerous. I'll stick to running from now on."
Bai Yulan murmurs to herself.
Then, she starts the car, turns around, and drives toward Ping County.
…
After packing up Bai Yulan's fishing gear and placing it in the trunk of his Mercedes G-Class, Jiang Tao glances at his wristwatch.
After all the commotion, it's now 12:52 a.m.
He takes a new pack of cigarettes from the car and lights one up.
With a thought, he checks the remaining two pieces of intelligence for today.
**[Today's Intelligence 02]:**
While camping at the Qisan Reservoir yesterday, you obtained related intelligence—
Somewhere at the bottom of the Qisan Reservoir lies a "Qing Dynasty auspicious ingot" fifty-tael auspicious ingot, worth 600,000 yuan.
…
"What the heck is an auspicious ingot?"
Seeing the second piece of intelligence, Jiang Tao's eyes light up.
Though he doesn't know what an auspicious ingot is, that's not important.
The system says it's worth 600,000 yuan.
That's what Jiang Tao cares about most.
He looks out at the lake surface of the Qisan Reservoir.
The holographic map in his vision shows the ingot is over 300 meters from his current position.
And it's near the center of the reservoir, out of his acquisition range.
"I'll rent a boat tomorrow and row out to check."
"It's too cold now. If I swim out and get a leg cramp, I could lose my life."
After a quick calculation, Jiang Tao decides to play it safe.
Risking his life for 600,000 isn't worth it.