Chapter 259: Reward Time
"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.
"Alright, alright," he replied, a knowing smile crossing his face. "So what would you like for your reward?"
His eyes scanned them, noticing their satisfied expressions.
He couldn't help but smirk, a familiar warmth growing inside him. They knew him too well, which is why he found it so amusing.
His heart fluttered a little, feeling a mix of affection and warmth, though he held himself back, enjoying the anticipation.
An Zhihao let out a sigh, feigning exasperation. "Well, you know what I'd like..." Her voice trailed off, a playful sparkle in her eyes.
She watched him closely, giving him a teasing smile.
Before he could respond, Lin Yue added with a calm smile, "We've worked very hard for this. It would be a shame not to enjoy ourselves."
She gave him a knowing look and flashed a slightly more mischievous smile. "What do you say, Brother Qiangqiang?"
Xu Qianghua shook his head, trying not to laugh. "I see," he replied with a look that showed he knew what they were hinting at.
This caused the ladies to blush, but seeing him not rejecting the idea gave them a boost of confidence as both of them each took one of his arms.
"We want you to help us with our cultivation," An Zhihao said playfully. "And this would be a great opportunity as both of us are close to reaching the peak of the Incarnation realm, so make sure you're ready."
Lin Yue gave him a warm, inviting smile as she leaned closer.
Her gaze was filled with tender affection as she whispered softly in his ear, her voice carrying a subtle note of teasing.
"Don't worry. We'll be gentle."
The two of them giggled, their cheeks flushed with anticipation.
Xu Qianghua could not help but shake his head, knowing he'd have to be the one to go easy on them or else these two wouldn't be able to move comfortably for a few days.
But sometimes, the best hunters need to act like prey to lure their target, though he didn't think he'd have to go that far to get them to open up.
"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.