The Mysterious "Math Prodigy"

Grade Director Chen Liang had originally been waiting for the appearance of that genius student with a beaming smile, already thinking about how he would praise them. But after a long while, with no student stepping forward, his smile faded.

He frowned, then said, "The student who solved this problem, please come forward. Don't keep Professor Liu waiting too long. This is a rare opportunity."

As the Grade Director, Chen Liang was a highly respected figure in the Senior Year Department. The students both respected and feared him, so under normal circumstances, once he had said that, the student should have stepped forward.

Yet, awkwardly enough, that student still did not come forward.

Everyone looked at one another.

At this point, they had to consider that the student was probably not present.

Of course, there was another possibility: the student who had solved the problem did not think much of Huake University and had somewhere better to go.

But saying that out loud would obviously have been tactless, considering Professor Liu was standing right beside them.

Still, that possibility seemed unlikely. They had already informed the students with better prospects, and who were capable of solving the problem, not to attempt it, leaving the opportunity for the other students.

So those students should not have done such a thing.

Thinking this, Chen Liang turned and said apologetically to Liu Bin, "Professor Liu, that student may not be here. How about this? You go to the office and rest for now, while I check the surveillance footage and find that student. What do you think?"

However, Liu Bin shook his head, rubbed his chin, and said, "No need. I've thought of a better method."

"I think this Math Prodigy may have found my question a little too easy, and perhaps concluded that Huake University's mathematical standards are not all that impressive. In that case, I'll set another problem. Tomorrow morning, I'll put it here again, and that student is welcome to continue the challenge."

"Of course, all the other students are welcome to give it a try as well. The rewards I mentioned before will remain unchanged."

"As for the difficulty of this problem..."

Liu Bin smiled slightly. "It should be a bit harder."

The students present all covered their faces.

God.

They had already been completely helpless with today's problem. If it got even harder, who could handle that?

Fine, then. They would probably only be able to watch that mysterious "Math Prodigy."

Just like that, a day quietly passed.

The next morning, in the same place, a second small blackboard appeared as promised, with another math problem written on it.

Yesterday's blackboard had not been removed. It still stood in the same spot, its problem and the brief six-line proof remaining on it, untouched.

It was there to compare handwriting. If the second problem was solved as well, they could compare the handwriting to determine whether it had been done by the same person.

And just like yesterday, the problem remained unsolved until before dinner. There were even rumors among the senior students that a math ace who had won a gold medal at the CMO and secured guaranteed admission to Tsinghua and Peking Universities had said he could not solve it either.

That was enough to show that this problem was indeed harder than yesterday's—and not by just a little.

This made them wonder whether that mysterious student could still solve it.

However, just as the senior students finished dinner and returned to their classrooms to prepare for evening self-study, they discovered that the difficult problem on the second blackboard had been solved once again!

"Holy crap, this problem can actually be solved with Euler's Formula? What the hell... what kind of god is this?"

"And the handwriting is exactly the same. Even the 'Solution' at the beginning looks like it was copied and pasted..."

Once again, the area before the blackboard was packed with senior students. Looking at the solution written there—just eight short lines, only two more than yesterday's—they broke into a cold sweat again.

Today's problem had been one or two levels harder than yesterday's, yet it had still been solved in only eight lines. If that was not godlike, what was?

Of course, the "newbies" who could not even understand the question heard the "experts" marveling and timidly asked, "Bro, what is this? And what's Euler's Formula?"

"Euler's Formula, also known as God's Formula. Anyway, it's insanely impressive. As for what this is..." The "expert" weakly admitted, "I want to know too."

Before long, the teachers rushed over once more.

Chen Liang and Liu Bin were the first to reach the blackboard. Professor Liu carefully examined the solution, and the astonishment on his face was impossible to hide.

"He actually thought of using Euler's Formula... This problem can actually be solved this way..."

He had not even considered it when he set the problem!

This time, he was truly stunned by the student's talent.

It showed both that the student possessed extensive knowledge and that, when solving mathematical problems, the student had a unique inspiration and gift.

Just like yesterday's Bézout's Identity!

He suddenly raised his head and swept his gaze across all the students present.

Their expressions—confused, envious, speculative—clearly showed that the student was still not among them!

He shook his head helplessly and said, "It seems this Math Prodigy still isn't here."

"Could it be that they want to see me give an even harder problem?"

But at that moment, Chen Liang suddenly tugged at Liu Bin and said, "Professor Liu, this student solves the problems every time during the period when our senior students are eating. To keep senior students from having to queue too long in the cafeteria, our school has staggered meal times. So... I suspect the student who solved these problems may be a sophomore or freshman."

The surrounding students drew sharp breaths when they heard Chen Liang's speculation.

It was as though the already chilly weather had dropped several more degrees.

What?

The person who solved those two problems was not even a senior student, but a freshman or sophomore?

Liu Bin was also taken aback, then asked seriously, "Are you sure?"

"It's only a guess, but the odds... should be quite high," Chen Liang said helplessly.

Liu Bin said, "If that is really the case, I may be able to bring USTC a promising candidate for the Gifted Class."

Chen Liang's eyes widened. "What? The USTC Young Scholars Program?"

Who had not heard of the USTC Young Scholars Program?

The requirement for entering the USTC Young Scholars Program was to be an outstanding student in the second year of high school or below.

Looking at it that way, it really did seem possible.

The many senior students present were also stunned.

As senior students, they had clearly missed their chance to enter the Gifted Class. Yet right beside them, there might be a younger schoolmate—perhaps a boy, perhaps a girl—with a chance to enter that legendary gathering place of geniuses?