The Mysterious "Math Prodigy"

The grade director, Chen Liang, who had been all smiles waiting for that gifted student to appear, already thinking about how he would praise them, saw that no student had stepped forward after a long while, and his smiling face gradually faded.

He furrowed his brow, then said, "That student who solved this problem, please come out now. Don't keep Professor Liu waiting. This opportunity is very rare."

As the grade director, Chen Liang held considerable authority over the senior year students, who generally regarded him with a mix of respect and fear. Under normal circumstances, when he spoke like this, the student should have come forward.

Yet, embarrassingly, that student still did not step out.

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.

At this point, it was reasonable to assume that the student was probably not present.

Of course, there was another possibility: that the student who solved the problem looked down on Huake University and had a better option in mind.

However, voicing that possibility would obviously be tactless, especially with Professor Liu standing right there.

But the likelihood of this scenario was also quite low, because they had already notified those students with better prospects and the ability to solve the problem not to write it out, leaving the opportunity for others.

So those students shouldn't have done this either.

Thinking this over, Chen Liang turned around and said apologetically to Liu Bin, "Professor Liu, that student might not be here. How about this: you go rest in the office for now, and I'll check the surveillance footage to find the student. What do you think?"

But at this moment, Liu Bin shook his head, stroked his chin, and said, "No need. I've thought of a better method."

"I think this Math Prodigy might have found my problem too simple and thus underestimated the mathematical strength of Huake University. So, I'll set another problem. I'll put it here tomorrow morning as well, and welcome that student to continue the challenge."

"Of course, all other students are also welcome to give it a try. The rewards I mentioned earlier remain unchanged."

"However, the difficulty of this problem..."

Liu Bin gave a slight smile, "It should be a bit harder."

The students present all covered their faces.

Heavens.

They were already helpless against today's problem. If it got any harder, who could handle it?

Alright, they'd probably have to rely on that mysterious "Math Prodigy" again.

And so, a day passed quietly.

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

The blackboard from yesterday hadn't been removed; it was still in place, the problem and the brief six-line proof still displayed, untouched.

This was to compare handwriting. If the second problem was also solved, comparing the handwriting would easily show whether it was the same person.

And just like yesterday, the problem remained unsolved until dinner time. Even among the senior year students, word had it that a math prodigy who had won a gold medal at the CMO and secured guaranteed admission to Tsinghua and Peking Universities said he couldn't solve it either.

This was enough to prove that this problem was indeed harder than yesterday's, and not just by a little.

At this point, they couldn't help but wonder: could that mysterious student still solve this one?

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

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

"And the handwriting is the same too. That opening 'Solution' character looks like it was copy-pasted..."

In front of the blackboard, senior year students were packed in again, staring at the solution. A concise eight lines—two more than yesterday's problem—but it still made the students present break out in a cold sweat.

Today's problem was one or two levels harder than yesterday's, yet it was still solved in just eight lines. If that wasn't a god, what was?

Of course, the "newbies" who couldn't even understand the question, upon hearing the "big shots" exclaim in awe, timidly asked, "Bro, what is this? And what's Euler's Formula?"

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

Soon, the teachers rushed over again.

Chen Liang and Liu Bin were the first to reach the blackboard. Professor Liu carefully examined the answer to this problem, and the surprise on his face was clearly beyond words.

"To actually think of using Euler's Formula... This problem can be solved this way too..."

He hadn't even thought of it when he set the problem!

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

It showed not only the student's broad knowledge but also their unique inspiration and talent in solving mathematical problems.

Just like yesterday's Bézout's Identity!

He suddenly looked up and scanned all the students present.

Those faces—some puzzled, some envious, some guessing—all clearly indicated that the student was still not there!

He shook his head helplessly and said, "It seems this Math Prodigy is still not here."

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

But just then, Chen Liang beside him tugged at Liu Bin and said, "Professor Liu, this student always solves the problems during our senior year's meal times. And since our school staggers meal times to prevent long queues at the cafeteria for senior year students, I suspect the student who solved this might be a sophomore or freshman."

The surrounding students gasped at Chen Liang's speculation.

As if making the already chilly weather drop a few more degrees.

What?

The ones solving these two problems weren't even their senior year students, but rather first-year or second-year students?

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

"Just a guess, but the probability... is pretty high," Chen Liang said helplessly.

Liu Bin said, "If that's really the case, then I might just be able to bring a seedling for our USTC's Young Scholars Program."

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

The USTC Young Scholars Program—who didn't know it, who hadn't heard of it?

And the requirement for entering the USTC Young Scholars Program was outstanding young students in their second year of high school or below.

Looking at it that way, it seemed like this might actually be possible?

The many senior year students present were also stunned.

As senior year students, they had clearly already missed the chance to enter the Young Scholars Program, and now, right beside them, there was actually a hidden junior or junior sister who had the opportunity to enter this legendary gathering place for geniuses?