For a moment, silence fell in the study.

The atmosphere between him and his father probably made Lanqi guess that this conversation might be of great significance to them.

Judging from his father's expression, it was a dialogue about the future, responsibility, and family honor.

So before his father spoke, he didn't want to say anything first.

As his gaze slowly moved, Lanqi noticed the butler smiling at him.

Still that fox-like smile as always.

Lanqi felt somewhat uncomfortable, and then he averted his gaze.

So the place where he could temporarily rest his eyes was on those dazzling books neatly arranged on the towering bookshelves, and the oil paintings hanging on the wall.

It was said to be an ancient masterpiece long treasured by the family, illuminated by elegant magic lamps, filling the entire study with an artistic atmosphere.

But obviously.

It was not as good as Lanqi's paintings.

After a long while.

Noé finally seemed to have thought through his words and spoke:

"Lanqi, you've been an adult for a month now... During this time, the family has smoothed over too many troubles for you, I think you can't go on like this without any regard anymore."

Then there was another brief silence.

Or a kind of waiting time.

Noé wasn't sure if after he said this, Lanqi would lose his temper in a frenzy because his act was exposed.

Because Lanqi's changes in these two days, in his view, seemed more like a temporary performance strategy.

It was very likely that Lanqi had also realized that the family would start to restrict his extravagant spending and willful behavior.

So he must be enduring his bad habits, wanting to safely get through this crisis by pretending to be good for a short time.

However.

To Noé's surprise.

Lanqi's eyes remained clear and calm.

After reflecting on the question for a moment, he nodded seriously.

He answered:

"I'm really sorry, I promise I won't do anything to damage the family's reputation again."

This made Noé a bit stunned, he couldn't help but squeeze his eyes.

He looked Lanqi over again.

No matter how he looked, he was a good young man.

For a moment, it even made Noé feel that he should be proud to have such a well-educated son with bright eyes.

This kid was either truly repentant, or he was still being stubborn.

Although Noé hoped it was the former, he also knew the greater probability was the latter.

It couldn't be that this foolish son suddenly had a complete transformation in his mental state due to some trigger, could it?

But it didn't matter.

Whether Lanqi was acting or not, Noé had ways to fundamentally judge how to treat Lanqi next.

"Ahem."

Noé cleared his throat, sat up straighter, and looked at Lanqi,

"How are you preparing for the entrance exam of the Alchemy Institute?"

His tone seemed to have softened somewhat, but his words were more severe,

"You should know that although I need to be in the empire often because of cross-border trade, it doesn't mean I completely neglect you. My tolerance for you is based on the premise that you are living seriously."

"Hmm..."

As soon as he finished speaking.

The butler standing behind Noé couldn't help but reveal a slight smile.

Three parts were schadenfreude at the young master's predicament, seven parts were finding it interesting to see how the young master would respond.

"..."

Lanqi didn't speak for the moment, but was startled in his heart when he heard this.

In his previous self's memories, he had never studied at all!

The Alchemy Institute Noé referred to was a branch of the Icerite Academy, the oldest academy in the capital of the Houghton Kingdom.

This academy recruits potential age-appropriate people from the Houghton Kingdom and surrounding countries every year, and is considered famous throughout the entire southern continent.

The Alchemy Institute is one of its four branch institutes.

The entrance exam of the Alchemy Institute, known for its alchemy craftsmanship and theoretical research, was so difficult that his previous self had given up directly without even starting to try.

And his previous self had always lied about working hard to get into the Alchemy Institute, thus deceiving his parents' trust and reassurance, squandering a large amount of pocket money playing around all day.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Damn, this cursed previous self.

He enjoyed all the blessings, and now it's my turn to take the blame!

Lanqi cursed in his heart.

However, in the original development, his previous self wouldn't have encountered the current trouble.

Because Talia would help this foolish rich young man end the troubles of his life.

Thinking of this, Lanqi suddenly frowned.

"Father, are there any other enterprises in this world with the same name as 'Wilford Trading Company'?"

Lanqi asked.

"Hm?"

Noé seemed puzzled by Lanqi's sudden question that seemed to change the subject, but looking at Lanqi's serious eyes, he still answered quite proudly:

"I dare not assert whether there are small enterprises with similar names, but for large-scale commercial enterprises conducting trade across the Houghton Kingdom and the Creise Empire, we are the only one."

After Noé finished speaking, Lanqi didn't change his expression, just nodded silently.

Since he had changed the fate of "being killed by Talia" and survived, correspondingly, he would also face some situations that the foolish rich young man originally wouldn't have encountered.

Lanqi had long felt that his surname "Wilford" sounded familiar, but couldn't remember exactly where he had an impression of it.

After hearing Noé's words, Lanqi finally remembered that in the main storyline of the game two years from now, there was a side quest called "The Wilford Tragedy"!

The quest prompt was that a cross-border trading enterprise suddenly collapsed overnight for unknown reasons, and personnel related to the high-level management of this enterprise were successively brutally murdered. Players could choose whether to investigate, and the quest level was very high.

His surname is Wilford, the family enterprise is also called Wilford Trading Company, and there is only this one large cross-border company...

It seems to be his family without mistake.

It looks like he can't just lie flat, he needs to strive for at least a year or half, investigate and solve the potential hidden dangers of the family in advance!

The family's money is all his reliance for retiring at 20, it must be well protected.

After recalling the relevant information about the Icerite Academy in his memory,

"I guarantee I will pass the entrance exam smoothly."

Lanqi answered quite calmly for now.

He actually didn't mind going to this academy in the capital.

It could even be said that in his previous self's memory, it was a dreamlike academy—

Not only did it have the most cutting-edge magic engineering technology and many high-level facility resources in the Houghton Kingdom, but it would also receive excellent protection.

He is currently a first-order jobless person without any combat power, has no strength to protect himself, and no status "sufficient to make important people value him and protect him".

Rashly running to the Creise Empire, where the problem is most likely to exist, to investigate would undoubtedly be suicidal.

It's better to explore his potential in the Houghton Kingdom first.

If he wants to rise to fame as quickly as possible.

Or even gain the favor of some great power holders or supreme experts in this world, and accumulate connections.

Then becoming a card-making master must be the shortcut most suitable for his talent.

Going to the Icerite Academy to use the resources of the Magic Engineering Institute would be a hundred times more efficient than staying in such a border city-state to study card-making on his own.

The capital is also a more suitable stage for him to show his skills.

At worst, as long as he can make a fortune in the capital Icerite, he can find a way to personally bring down his father's Wilford Trading Company at that time, which can also avoid the family's ruin!

"Hm?"

Noé raised his eyebrows, not realizing Lanqi's filial thoughts at this moment, but only questioning Lanqi's confidence in saying he would enter the academy.

He thought his foolish son, who acted like a little hooligan, would reveal his true colors here.

Unexpectedly, Lanqi only frowned slightly and was still being stubborn.

Indeed, Lanqi's reactions today were all beyond Noé's expectations.

Although Noé didn't have much energy to care about Lanqi's daily life, every time he asked the butler and maid about Lanqi's condition, both of them tried their best to cover for Lanqi.

But Noé wasn't stupid, he could roughly judge what kind of state Lanqi was usually in.

"Since you say so, if you successfully pass the entrance exam, then I have misunderstood you, I will apologize to you..."

Noé said in a deep voice, his gaze like a torch, deeply exploring Lanqi's emerald eyes,

"But if you can't pass the academy's exam, doesn't it prove that you have been deceiving our trust in you?"

"Of course, that's fair."

Lanqi's response was still unhurried.

"Then I won't bother you anymore today, continue to study hard. I will buy the train tickets to the capital for you in advance, you don't need to worry about these."

At this point, seeing Lanqi's straightforward promise, Noé was satisfied.

Since Lanqi still wanted to be stubborn now.

Then Noé didn't mind using this to have a justified reason to let Lanqi accept punishment willingly after suffering some setbacks.

Noé actually didn't think Lanqi could pass the Alchemy Institute's exam.

Or rather, it was simply impossible.

Given the complexity of the Alchemy Institute's exam, the number of subjects, and the extremely high passing standards, it would take at least two or three years of serious preparation.

And this year's entrance exam for the Icerite Academy would start in just three months.

Even the Alchemy Institute, which required the least talent, Lanqi couldn't handle.

When he goes to the capital and sees other talented peers from the other three institutes, he might realize how foolish and pathetic his laziness, arrogance, and shortsightedness are.

"I understand."

Lanqi said affirmatively.

His father had always been doubting him in his heart, yet always spoke with high EQ, and was still willing to send him to the capital, Lanqi felt respected.

Then he would definitely respond to his father's expectations,

"As long as you are sure you can send me to the capital to show my skills, I guarantee you will receive good news of my smooth enrollment in the Icerite Academy in the capital."

"...Heh."

Noé almost laughed when he heard this.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and held back the mocking intent that was about to appear on his face.

Still talking about showing his skills.

You're just going to enroll, could you possibly pull off something big for me?

Noé didn't expect today's conversation would go so smoothly, he had already prepared for their father-son relationship to become quite unpleasant.

Punishment for Lanqi was inevitable, because he wanted to teach the arrogant and overconfident Lanqi to pay the price for his mistakes.

Today, unexpectedly, because of Lanqi's sincere attitude, they reached a good peace treaty.

But in Noé's view, the difference was just letting him go to the capital to see the world before punishing Lanqi.

Anyway, for the entrance exam of the Icerite Academy, Lanqi was just going to embarrass himself.

As for letting Lanqi go to the capital, Noé wasn't worried at all that Lanqi would become an uncontrollable wild horse.

In this small border place, Lanqi who had never seen the world could be arrogant and domineering.

But in the capital Icerite, the true big stage of the southern continent where important figures were everywhere, this son would certainly not be able to make any waves.

After all.

Noé knew Lanqi very well, Lanqi was just that type of paper tiger foolish prodigal son.

And definitely not some uncontrollable troublemaker who would evolve once in a suitable environment.

This was quite reassuring.