This was the first time since joining the Cyan Dragon Study Group that Li Dong had truly felt the pressure from a titan of the field.
Outside, the sky slowly began to darken.
Principal Gong glanced at his watch, then at Professor Wiles, who was slightly out of breath on the sofa. He gently nudged Tian Gang’s arm and lowered his voice.
"It’s getting late. Professor Wiles is getting on in years, after all."
Tian Gang understood instantly. He turned and shot Li Dong a look.
Li Dong saw it.
But he... completely misunderstood.
He thought Teacher Tian wanted him... to persuade Professor Wiles to stay.
Li Dong was stunned.
’Holy shit, Teacher Tian is this ambitious?’
Then he broke into a mischievous grin.
’I like it.’
Li Dong put down his marker, turned around, and looked at Wiles with a sincere expression.
"Professor Wiles, seeing as it’s getting late, why don’t we rest for now and continue tomorrow."
"Or..."
He paused for half a second before continuing slowly.
"If you’re willing, we could continue this discussion for as long as it takes, until we reach a conclusion."
Liu Ruochuan, who had been lifting his teacup, nearly had his eyes pop out of his head when he heard this.
The three generations of sly foxes—old, middle-aged, and young—were all on the same wavelength.
Liu Ruochuan’s heart sank.
’What is this kid trying to pull??’
Tian Gang realized it too.
’Holy shit.’
’Did this kid misunderstand me?’
’I just wanted him to convince the old man to get some rest!’
’Are you trying to poach Professor Wiles??’
’No way... could he actually pull it off?’
Hearing Li Dong’s words, Wiles paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Reach a conclusion?"
"We probably won’t have one within the next hundred years."
"These old bones of mine won’t last that long, and besides, I have to return to Oxford."
The hearts of Tian Gang, Liu Ruochuan, and Li Dong sank in unison.
’As expected. It’s not going to work.’
But in that very instant... Liu Ruochuan and Tian Gang both reacted almost simultaneously.
’Within a hundred years?’
’What did Wiles just say??’
It was worth remembering that when the seven Millennium Prize Problems from the Clay Mathematics Institute were first proposed, they weren’t called "Millennium Prize Problems."
It was only because generation after generation of mathematicians threw themselves at proving or disproving them, only to fail, that they were elevated to the status of "Millennium Prize Problems" over time.
And what Wiles had just said...
’In his eyes, Li Dong’s conjecture was on par with the Millennium Prize Problems??’
Before the two could even process their shock, Wiles spoke again.
"However."
"That said, I would like to discuss this with you for a while longer."
"As it happens, I don’t have any particular plans for the next month."
He turned to Principal Gong.
"Principal Gong, I wonder if your university would be able to accommodate me?"
Principal Gong didn’t hesitate for even a second.
"Of course, Professor Wiles. You can stay for as long as you wish."
Only then did everyone get up and prepare to head to dinner together.
As they left the room, Principal Gong gave Li Dong a long, deep look.
He had seen it earlier, too.
’Just now... was that kid trying to poach another professor??’
Even for a man like Principal Gong, who had seen it all in his life, he couldn’t help but marvel to himself at this moment.
’I have to keep Li Dong at Yan University.’
’This kid... he’s a damn goose that lays golden eggs.’
News of Professor Wiles’s arrival at Yan University was, naturally, impossible to keep under wraps.
The ones with the keenest noses weren’t the media, but Yan University’s century-long rival, Shuimu University.
The forums at Shuimu University immediately blew up.
"Professor Wiles went to Yan University again?"
"No way! I haven’t heard any official announcements!!"
"It’s not impossible! My rival is already gloating about it on their social media feed, they even posted pictures!!"
"How is that fair? The last time Professor Wiles came to Huaxia eight years ago, he went to Yan University. Why them again? Shouldn’t he come to us at Shuimu?"
"I’m actually more curious what Professor Wiles is there for. A lecture?"
"If it’s a lecture, does that mean we have to rush over to Yan University to grab seats again..."
The forum was filled with cries of despair.
Shuimu University, in Qiu Chengtong’s office.
Shuimu’s Principal Li was sitting across from Qiu Chengtong.
Of course, he knew that Wiles had gone to Yan University.
Not only did he know, but his sources were even better informed; he even knew the old professor’s trip was specifically for Li Dong.
The bold claim Li Dong had made back in Sunshine Hall was that he was going to produce a proof for the universality of the Langlands Program.
Now, it seemed he had, in all likelihood, succeeded.
It wasn’t that Principal Li was jealous.
Li Dong was a student of Huaxia, after all, and he was genuinely happy for the boy.
It just irked him a little.
’Why... wasn’t Li Dong one of ours at Shuimu?’
Just then, Qiu Chengtong hung up the phone.
"Principal Li, it looks like Wiles is planning to stay at Yan University for a month this time."
Principal Li was taken aback.
"That long?"
Qiu Chengtong nodded.
He and Wiles were old friends.
On the phone just now, Wiles’s exact words were: Li Dong’s paper was "so perfect it seems to have grown organically," and "that conjecture Li Dong tossed out at the end..."
"...showed me a shadow of a grand unified theory of mathematics."
But he didn’t tell Principal Li all of this.
Principal Li’s background was in interdisciplinary engineering and medicine; he wasn’t familiar with the whole Langlands affair.
Principal Li was just about to ask Qiu Chengtong to see if he could find a way to invite Wiles over to Shuimu for a few days...
But before the words could leave his mouth, Qiu Chengtong spoke first.
"Principal Li, I’ll need to reschedule my public lecture for this week. Something has come up, and I need to make a trip to Yan University."
Principal Li: ???
’Wait... didn’t you have a complete falling out with Yan University? And you’re still going?’
’Are they even going to welcome you?’
Of course, Principal Li couldn’t possibly say this out loud; he only grumbled to himself.
Qiu Chengtong could naturally tell what he was thinking.
So he added nonchalantly, "I’m just going to see Li Dong and Wiles."
「The next afternoon.」
Jiangcheng Seventh Middle School, at the main gate.
An interview van from the Jiangcheng Education Channel was parked securely at the school gate.
Arriving students frequently stopped in their tracks to stare.
A scene like this was a rare sight at Seventh Middle School, happening only a few times a year at most.
Seventh Middle School’s Principal Wang came rushing out of his office.
The person leading the team from the Education Channel this time was Zhang Ye.
Seeing Principal Wang emerge, Zhang Ye walked up to greet him with a smile.
"Principal Wang. I’m Zhang Ye, a director with the Jiangcheng Education Channel."
Principal Wang politely extended his hand.
"Director Zhang, what brings you all here?"
Zhang Ye didn’t answer right away. He took out the latest issue of a journal from his briefcase and handed it to Principal Wang.
Principal Wang took it and glanced at the cover.
A line of neat English text was printed on the cover.
Annals of Mathematics
Principal Wang: ...
He couldn’t read it. It was all in English.

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