Chapter 26.2 - Building Confidence

At this question, Li Xinwen didn't know how to answer. Luckily at this time, the driver announced that they have arrived and Li Xinwen suddenly has an idea. Taking out his wallet, he handed it to Sun Xiao. "The first step on building your confidence is to overcome your shyness! Ah'Wen, try and pay the uncle driver," Li Xinwen told Sun Xiao while he glanced at the driver, signaling the other to help him.

Since the driver owed Li Xinwen a favor for the autograph, he naturally agreed to help. "Little brother, the fee will be 100 yuan," the driver said with a friendly smile on his face.

Being suddenly put into this kind of situation, Sun Xiao felt nervous and he almost broke down under the pressure. Then, he felt a warm hand on his back, gently stroking him. Looking up, he saw Li Xinwen with a smile, waiting on him patiently. Taking a deep breath, he carefully opened Li Xinwen's wallet and took out the bill to pay for the fare. "Umm... here, uncle driver," Sun Xiao said as he handed the bill to the taxi driver.

"Alright, thank you for the patronage!" the driver said before he turned to Li Xinwen. "Mr. Li, the autograph..."

"Of course, but I don't have anything to write with," Li Xinwen informed the other and the driver immediately went over to his car dashboard to look for something for Li Xinwen to use. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could use other than a receipt book.

Seeing this, Sun Xiao felt that he should try to help so he simply offered: "I... have papers and pen marker with me..."

After saying this, Sun Xiao rummaged his backpack and then took out his sketchbook and his pencil case. He handed the sketchbook to Li Xinwen before took out the pen marker from his pencil case. Seeing this, Li Xinwen felt that the boy made a good progress and he can't help smiling at Sun Xiao.

"Thank you, Ah'Xiao," Li Xinwen said before he flipped through the sketchbook until he reached an empty page. Then, he signed his name in accordance to the original's memories. "Sir, what's your daughter's name?" Li Xinwen asked and the driver carefully told Li Xinwen his daughter's name word by word. Li Xinwen nod his head and wrote a small note for the driver's daughter to encourage her more. After giving the autograph to the driver, both Li Xinwen and Sun Xiao alighted from the taxi and Li Xinwen stared at the huge building before him. There were also a lot of people walking around so he put on his disguise before he took Sun Xiao's hand in his.

"Stay close, don't get lost," Li Xinwen said before he pulled Sun Xiao into the shopping mall.

Their first destination is, of course, a restaurant. On the ground floor, there were a lot of restaurants, cafes and also different kinds of fast-food restaurants. Li Xinwen is not a picky eater, so he simply asked Sun Xiao, "Ah'Xiao, where do you want to eat?"

Hearing the question, Sun Xiao looked around until he saw a traditional Chinese restaurant. "Let's eat there...?" Sun Xiao said as he pointed at the restaurant.

Li Xinwen saw where Sun Xiao is pointing and immediately agreed. They walked over to the restaurant and were welcomed by the waitress. "Good afternoon, sirs! A table for two?" the waitress asked with a smile on her face. Li Xinwen was just about to answer then remembered that since he decided to help Sun Xiao build confidence, he should let the boy answer. He lightly elbowed Sun Xiao's side, signaling the boy to answer in his stead.

Sun Xiao just stared at Li Xinwen for a while before understanding what his brother is trying to do. Feeling nervous, he turned to the waitress before he opened his mouth to answer. "Table for... two people and, can we... have a seat near the corner?" Sun Xiao was timid, but his voice is loud enough for the waitress to answer.

Seeing this, the waitress can't help but feel that Sun Xiao is very cute. "The seat near the corner? Please wait a moment and let me check," she said before she pulled one of her co-workers and asked about the seats. Once she got her answer, she turned back to Li Xinwen and Sun Xiao with a smile on her face. "Luckily, there is one! Let me lead you to your seat," the waitress said as she began to walk deeper into the restaurant.

The seat near the corner is not crowded and it gives the two of them a sense of privacy. The waitress handed over the menu book to them and Li Xinwen began browsing for food. There was a lot of food that looks familiar and Li Xinwen can't help feeling his mouth water.

"Miss, I'll have this," Li Xinwen said as he pointed at braised beef noodle and Sun Xiao who sat opposite him quietly glanced at what he ordered. When he saw what Li Xinwen was pointing at, his eyes widened before he grabbed Li Xinwen's hand.

"Xin-gege! You can't eat solid food!" Sun Xiao reminded him, eyes filled with worry.

"Ah'Xiao, it's alright. As long as Hu-jie doesn't find out," Li Xinwen winked at Sun Xiao. "Plus... Your brother is really hungry, ah! You can't expect me to only eat soup or porridge, right?" Li Xinwen gave Sun Xiao a pitiful look and the younger boy felt himself wavering.

"I..." Sun Xiao stared at Li Xinwen for a while, then he remembered Li Xinwen's state for the past few months on the hospital bed and he quickly steeled his heart. "No, Xin-gege must not eat solid food yet. The doctor says no, so we must listen... Xin-gege promised not to leave Ah'Xiao, remember?"

This time, it was Li Xinwen's turn to waver and seeing Sun Xiao's resolve in his eyes, he can only sigh. 'Well, since he can have this expression, that means it won't be that hard to build his confidence,' Li Xinwen thought as he browsed the menu once again.

The waitress who was attending to them suddenly felt as if she's wearing a hat that shines very brightly while being fed dog food by these two customers of hers.