Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Report

The moment Wu Tong stepped into the office, Li Yisheng couldn't help but break into a broad smile. He spoke quickly and with excitement, "Congratulations, Wu Tong! Your paper has been accepted. The Annals of Mathematics adjusted their publishing schedule for you—your paper will appear in print at the beginning of next month. One of your reviewers, Mr. Andrew Wiles, called Professor Zhou last night. He praised your paper highly and gave it an outstanding evaluation!"

This was Andrew Wiles, after all—a Fields Medal laureate, a top international scholar, someone most people could only dream of meeting. The very idea of talking to him was already thrilling, and he had served as this student's reviewer.

"Another reviewer must have been Terence Tao, the leading Chinese mathematician. Today he updated his Facebook, offering high praise as well. He wrote, 'Today I witnessed new progress in number theory. The Zhou Conjecture has been proven. Let us look forward to the new issue of the Annals of Mathematics. I seem to see the youngest Fields Medalist in the making!'"

"These esteemed mentors are being too generous!" Wu Tong replied modestly. She had read about these great figures in her studies; compared to them, she was just a newcomer, a latecomer to the field.

"This must be Wu Tong, our humble young colleague! Still, to have proven the Zhou Conjecture and published in a top-tier SCI journal is something to be celebrated!" Zhou Wenping, present in the office, smiled and offered his praise.

"Wu Tong, let me introduce you: this is Pan Wenxuan, Dean of the School of Mathematics here at Jinghua University and Vice President of Jinghua. This is Professor Zhou Wenping, Associate Dean and Deputy Director of the Mathematics Research Center. This is the Department Chair... and this is..." Li Yisheng clapped his hands and quickly made introductions.

"Everyone, this is Wu Tong. I don't need to say much more!"

"No need, no need! Such an outstanding student—everyone knows who she is!" Pan Wenxuan said heartily, stepping forward to shake Wu Tong's hand.

From now on, Wu Tong would be the pride of their mathematics department. They had pored over her basic information countless times. At first, they thought they had recruited an excellent CMO—a prospect full of promise. Who could have guessed she was still hiding her true abilities?

They had just secured her recommendation for direct admission, and before she had even officially started, she had already accomplished something so significant. If their rivals next door found out, their eyes would surely turn green with envy. Hahaha—this was the happiest news of the year!

The department heads and professors each took turns shaking Wu Tong's hand. To have such a student emerge from their university—one who, in a few years, might stand alongside them as a scholar—filled them all with enthusiasm.

"Wu Tong, are you ready? The university has arranged a small academic seminar for you in the minor auditorium. If possible, could you give the report tomorrow afternoon?" Pan Wenxuan inquired. If the timing wasn't suitable, they could reschedule.

"That's fine, President Pan," Wu Tong replied, recognizing him as the outspoken university leader who had once spoken up for Jinghua students. The proof process was still vivid in her mind; she needed no special preparation.

On April 16th, at 2 p.m., the minor auditorium at Jinghua was filled to capacity. A banner hung across the stage, and the university website ran a congratulatory ticker: "Congratulations to our student Wu Tong for solving the world-class Zhou Conjecture, as recognized by top international scholars. Her work will be published in the May issue of the Annals of Mathematics, an SCI core journal!"

Everyone present—faculty and students alike—had only received notice of the seminar the day before, and those quick enough had managed to secure a seat. Seeing the banner and the scrolling announcement, they were all dumbstruck.

My god... When did our university produce such a genius? She had proven the Zhou Conjecture, plucking a pearl from the crown of number theory. We're all Jinghua students—how can the gap be so vast?

The meeting began with Dean Pan Wenxuan personally presiding and speaking with joy.

"Recently, our tenth cohort student, Wu Tong, took up the challenge of the Zhou Conjecture, which has hung unsolved for nearly twenty years, and succeeded in proving it. She has earned recognition from the world's leading scholars—Fields Medalists Andrew Wiles, Terence Tao, and others...

Our university is proud to have such an outstanding student. Let us all welcome Wu Tong to the stage with warm applause, as she shares her proof with us!"

Wu Tong walked onto the stage from backstage. Today, she had taken care to dress up a little: a white silk blouse paired with a black skirt embroidered with golden threads. This outfit had been a birthday gift for her sixteenth birthday from Teacher Jin and Comrade Wu. Perhaps because her grandmother had made her clothes by hand when she was young, leaving traces of that era—traditional collars, side fastenings, pleated skirts—these classical elements ran through Wu Tong's childhood and shaped her aesthetic. She favored Chinese-style clothing.

That sixteenth birthday, on the verge of adulthood, was a time when a girl’s beauty first blossoms. With the advice of the stylish Aunt Xu Meifeng, Teacher Jin had commissioned this blend of ancient and modern for Wu Tong. The last time her uncle brought her the outfit, she put it on, and today she wore it again, as if her family were with her.

This would later become Wu Tong’s signature attire for attending conferences.

The names Andrew, Terence Tao, and others resounded through the auditorium, once again astonishing faculty and students alike. When their shock subsided and Wu Tong appeared—her youthful face still a bit innocent despite her formal attire—some quick-witted attendees realized: Tenth cohort, that’s this year, the incoming class for the upcoming autumn. But they hadn’t even started university yet!

The college entrance exams hadn’t even taken place!

This was...

Some sharp-eyed students from the Physics Department, who had once been bested by Wu Tong in class, recognized her immediately. Wasn’t this the legendary future junior student?

Tsk, look at the university trying to bask in her glory! She hadn’t even officially enrolled, yet the school was already claiming her as part of the tenth cohort, linking themselves to her by any means necessary!

Normally, they’d scorn such shamelessness, but this was a world-class problem, the proof of the Zhou Conjecture—a major breakthrough. Never mind the university; even they would do anything to associate themselves with such a student!

To have such a glorious achievement come from a fellow student—they were all deeply proud.

"Dear professors, seniors, and fellow students, good afternoon. I am Wu Tong of the tenth cohort. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to hear me speak. The Zhou Conjecture, the distribution law of Mersenne primes, traces its origin to 1992..." Wu Tong spoke calmly and eloquently.

It was her first time on such a stage, surrounded by so many people—not a simple award ceremony, but a full academic report.

To be honest, she was a little nervous at first. In this life, and in the memories she had awakened, she had never stood on such a stage to present before an audience. Fortunately, the content was something she knew intimately—her own proof.

From an initial hint of awkwardness to complete confidence, Wu Tong adapted quickly. She spoke entirely without notes; the slides on the big screen were more for the audience than for herself.

Chapter Four delivered; Chapter Five on the way.

(End of this chapter)