A hug full of charm and a fleeting glimpse of exposure

Supermarkets are not like other buildings, usually just two or three stories high, and they are basically frame structures. The construction is not very complicated; the main issue is the high cost, which relies heavily on concrete and steel. Jiajia Supermarket has a total of three floors. The second floor has already been capped, and they are currently setting up the framework for the third floor. However, due to Li Hongjiang's order to halt work, the workers were gathered in small groups, sitting in the shade and chatting.

Cao Shuli wanted to go up to the second floor to observe the site, and even intended to climb the scaffolding. Xia Xiang firmly stopped her: "I really don't know how to say this, but you're wearing a skirt. Can you stand on the scaffolding?"

Cao Shuli didn't understand: "Why not?"

"The scaffolding isn't like a staircase. You can see through from below. Wearing a skirt and standing on it..." Xia Xiang was too embarrassed to be too explicit, as it might sound like he was teasing Cao Shuli.

It was unclear whether Cao Shuli understood, but her face turned slightly red. She looked around and said in a low voice, "The workers aren't over here. I'll go up first, and you can keep watch for me downstairs..."

To guard against the wicked rather than the virtuous—does that mean she considers him a gentleman? Xia Xiang wasn't sure if he should be relieved by Cao Shuli's trust or embarrassed by her disregard of his manhood. In any case, it wasn't a bad thing that a beautiful woman didn't feel the need to guard herself against him, right? Xia Xiang turned his head left and right, noticing that the workers were far away, and no one came to stop them. Perhaps, in their eyes, anyone who could enter the construction site must be some kind of leader, and they didn't want to invite trouble.

"Alright, I'm already up here. Stop pretending to look around and come up!" Cao Shuli waved her hand at Xia Xiang from the rooftop, one hand tightly holding down her skirt, as if afraid of revealing too much.

If she was worried about exposure, she should have thought of it earlier. Now, she was pretending to hold her skirt. Xia Xiang chuckled inwardly and quickly climbed the makeshift stairs to the rooftop. He said to Cao Shuli, "You had to come up here. Aren't you afraid of getting sunburned?"

Although it was only around 2 or 3 PM, the June sun was scorching, almost blinding. There was no shade on the rooftop, and both of them stood in the sunlight, feeling the intense heat in just a few moments.

Xia Xiang was only a step away from Cao Shuli. Facing the sunlight, he could clearly see the fine hairs on her face and neck, making her skin appear even more delicate and fair. A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted from her, like the scent of a deep valley orchid, making her seem as fresh as a camellia and as beautiful as moonlight.

Xia Xiang was momentarily captivated, not noticing the protruding rebar at his feet. He tripped, stumbled forward, and instinctively reached out to grab something, ending up hugging Cao Shuli. Unable to stop, he pulled her forward a couple of steps. Just as they were about to fall, he managed to grab a rebar column, stopping their momentum.

However, his other arm wrapped around Cao Shuli's back, pulling her tightly into his embrace.

Cao Shuli let out a soft "Ah," looking panicked. Instead of grabbing something else, she clung to Xia Xiang, pressing her entire body against him as if holding on to him would keep her safe. Her grip was so tight that her chest, pressed against his, felt like two lively little bunnies, deformed and melted into his chest, almost becoming a single, soft mass.

Xia Xiang mentally exclaimed, "That was close." He steadied himself, feeling the incredible elasticity against his chest. Cao Shuli, like a frightened child, clung to him with all her might, squeezing him so hard he could barely breathe. The thin summer clothes allowed him to feel the heat radiating from her body, penetrating through two layers of clothing, making it feel like they were naked against each other.

Cao Shuli's eyes were closed, her long lashes trembling, either from panic or excitement. They stood in an intimate embrace, with Cao Shuli at the same height as Xia Xiang's nose. Lowering his head, he could see from the back of her neck down to her waist, her smooth, flawless back like a pristine beach, inviting and captivating.

A man's desire is often triggered by sight and touch. Seeing and feeling can easily arouse emotions. Xia Xiang, not only seeing but also holding a beautiful woman, and inhaling Cao Shuli's natural scent, found it impossible not to react. Suddenly, he felt a surge of arousal from his lower abdomen, followed by a physical reaction.

Holding her so tightly and being so close, any reaction would be noticed by Cao Shuli. Xia Xiang silently cursed his lack of control. This was no place for such things, especially with dozens of workers below and Cao Director's driver, Li Jiefu, nearby, ready to report any of his actions to Cao Director.

He gently pushed Cao Shuli, but she didn't move, her neck flushing with embarrassment. Xia Xiang sighed, knowing they needed to separate, but how? He patted her back lightly and whispered, "It's summer, and it's too hot. Holding each other for warmth in winter would be romantic, but now, it's just overheating..."

Cao Shuli laughed, pushing Xia Xiang away. "I didn't hug you. It was an emergency. I'd have hugged a pillar to avoid falling and getting hurt. Remember, I hugged a pillar, got it? Don't think or say anything else, or I'll make you regret it."

Cao Shuli's threat lacked menace, sounding more like playful banter. Seeing her stubbornness, Xia Xiang teased, "It seems I was the one who was passive. If anyone was thinking or saying too much, it was you. Not admitting that you used my support to avoid falling is one thing, but blaming me is unfair."

Cao Shuli's eyes widened. "You were the one who tripped. Luckily, I stopped you, or you'd be rolling on the ground in pain. You should be grateful, not twisting the truth. I should have let you fall and get bruised!"

"What about after I stabilized, and you kept holding me? What does that mean?" Cao Shuli's expression was irresistibly cute, and Xia Xiang couldn't help but tease her.

"You dare say that? You were the one who hugged me, scaring me half to death. I just rested in your arms, what's wrong with that? And a man being so petty, it's ridiculous."

Xia Xiang smiled. "Fine, fine, I give up. If you think my embrace is warm and reliable, you're welcome to hug me anytime."

"That's better..." Cao Shuli, feeling victorious, realized her mistake and cried, "Hey, Xia Xiang, you dare say I'm bad? Defaming my innocence? You were the one who hugged me, not the other way around. You...!"

After a bit of playful banter, the awkwardness between them vanished. Even Xia Xiang, with his extra twelve years of experience, marveled at the joy of youth. Cao Shuli, with her simple heart, was soon laughing and smiling, notebook in hand, moving around the rooftop. The breeze made her skirt flutter, like a butterfly flitting about.

After sketching a rough construction plan, Cao Shuli closed her notebook and said seriously, "My work is done. Let's go down. The sun is too strong, and we'll get sunburned if we stay longer."

Xia Xiang went down first, standing by the stairs to prevent any unexpected incidents. Cao Shuli, one hand holding her skirt and the other on the railing, called out, "Hey, don't peek, okay?"

Xia Xiang nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, I'm not interested in minors!"

Cao Shuli was furious. "Xia Xiang, don't push it. Look at me. Which part of me isn't fully developed? Where am I not perfect? Minors, how can you say that? Where do I look like a minor?"

Xia Xiang was speechless. Cao Shuli's words were too sharp, and he dared not respond.

As Cao Shuli descended, she noticed Xia Xiang hadn't replied and turned to look, slipping and letting out a scream. She gripped the railing tightly, too scared to move. Xia Xiang stepped forward, asking, "Are you okay? Do you need help?"

What he saw was a pair of long, straight legs, perfectly symmetrical and flawless. Her calves were rounded, and her thighs, full and healthy, led to a firm, round bottom, encased in pure white cotton panties. Xia Xiang could clearly see a fluffy cartoon rabbit embroidered on her panties, its ears perched on each cheek.

Finally, she did reveal something. Xia Xiang had a strange thought: at least the exposure was for his eyes! Pretending he saw nothing, he looked away and saw Cao Shuli descending steadily. He offered his hand to help her.

Cao Shuli dusted off her hands, ignoring Xia Xiang's offer, and said with a smile, "My work is done. Let's go meet your classmate. I want to see whose taste is better, yours or his."