Back in the quiet of his office, Xu Qianghua sat reviewing a few remaining details when the door opened, and An Zhihao and Lin Yue entered, their expressions calm but carrying a hint of cheerfulness.
He raised an eyebrow, curious about their decision to come in person instead of using the communication token.
"Well, I thought you'd just relay the orders with the token," Xu Qianghua remarked, looking from one to the other with mild amusement. "Any particular reason you felt the need to step out?"
An Zhihao flashed him a charming grin, shrugging her shoulders as she approached him. "Oh, we wanted to make sure everything was carried out precisely," she replied lightly.
"Sometimes, direct interaction is more effective than a message over the token." She glanced at Lin Yue, who nodded in agreement, her expression composed but with a small, knowing smile.
Lin Yue added, "It's important for everyone to see us delivering orders in person once in a while, especially given the weight of your commands. It reassures them and shows that we're actively involved." Her voice was calm, carrying a tone that suggested she'd thought this through.
Xu Qianghua nodded, his gaze shifting from one to the other. He could tell they both had something else in mind, perhaps more than they were letting on.
"I suppose that's reasonable enough," he said, sensing they'd come up with this explanation together. "But don't think I didn't notice your... preference for handling things directly."
An Zhihao's grin widened, her eyes sparkling with charm as she leaned closer. "It's just more satisfying, that's all," she replied with a soft laugh.
She leaned forward, her eyes twinkling as she looked at him expectantly. "And speaking of satisfaction... how about a reward for the hard work we just put in?"
Hearing this, he confirmed his thoughts and thought to himself,
"Here it comes."
Xu Qianghua gave her an amused look. "A reward, is it? And what exactly did you have in mind?"
An Zhihao's grin widened further, a playful sparkle in her eyes. "Well, that's up to you, but I did go above and beyond to make sure everything was executed perfectly. So maybe something... special?" She tilted her head, looking as if she expected him to read her mind.
Lin Yue glanced at her and smiled faintly, adding, "It would be fitting, considering the work put in today. And, naturally, it would show us how much our dedication is valued."
Xu Qianghua couldn't help but chuckle at their approach, amused by how they had both seamlessly joined forces to get what they wanted.
"Just wait and see,"
he thought.
Xu Qianghua smiled, taking their arms and guiding them out of the room.
"You know, you two have worked very hard today, so I suppose I should give you a little something, and I just happen to have an idea of something we can try."
He saw their faces light up as if he'd just given them the best gift in the world, and his heart warmed at their innocent enthusiasm.
They couldn't wait to start, but he would have to tease them a little before they could proceed.
He couldn't help but chuckle, seeing how they looked at him.
"So, what would the two ladies like to do?" he teased.
The two glanced at each other and then back at him, blushing slightly.
"You... you know what we want, but you still ask," An Zhihao retorted shyly, pouting a little.
"And here I thought I was the one being bold," Lin Yue added with a warm smile.
"So... the usual, huh," he replied lightly.
He gave them a playful smile, enjoying their embarrassed reactions.
Xu Qianghua nodded as he said, "Very well."
He then led them toward the seldom-used room designated for dual cultivation, the main bedroom where they all shared their downtime when they weren't busy with other matters.
This caused the ladies to look at each other with a look of shame, but they were not that embarrassed about this as they had been together for so long.