I'm Not a Devil

He navigated to the official website of Publications mathématiques de l'IHS and found the submission interface.

Following the submission steps, Xiao Yi successfully uploaded his paper.

"Finally, it's done."

Xiao Yi shook his head. To submit his paper, he had to apply for all sorts of accounts, which had taken considerable effort.

"So, as Professor Liu said, now I just have to wait for news."

Xiao Yi felt a little excited.

After all, it was his first time publishing a paper, and his first time submitting to an SCI journal. It was hard not to be excited.

According to information he found online, submitting to an SCI journal was a very difficult task for most people.

In some less prestigious institutions, publishing a paper in a Q3 or Q4 journal might be enough for a lecturer to be promoted to associate professor, and for an associate professor to become a full professor.

A Q1 paper was even more impressive. Applying for a position at a 985 university with a Q1 paper published as the sole author would likely attract the direct attention of the dean.

As for top-tier journals, they were basically guaranteed a warm welcome from top universities.

The idea of a single paper sustaining one's career for a lifetime wasn't just a rumor.

"I just don't know if this paper will pass the review."

Xiao Yi felt a little nervous about this.

"Never mind, I shouldn't think about these things. I should go study."

"I haven't finished reading the paper on the Twin Prime Conjecture yet."

With that thought, Xiao Yi put the matter of his paper aside for the moment and continued with his original study plan.

Of course, he didn't forget to inform Professor Liu Bin that he had submitted the paper.

[Okay, I got it.]

After receiving Xiao Yi's message, Liu Bin quickly replied. He then left his office and went to Hu Guangde's office again to tell him the news.

Hu Guangde nodded and said, "OK, his paper should arrive tomorrow. I'll call the editor-in-chief of IHES, Bojielun, then."

"If all goes smoothly, his paper might be published within three months."

Liu Bin nodded slightly, already imagining the stir this paper would create in their academic community once it was published.

However, at that moment, the office door was knocked again.

"Please come in."

The door opened, and a vice dean from the Mathematics Department walked in.

"Dean Chen."

Glancing at the person, Hu Guangde greeted him with a smile.

"Academician Hu." Dean Chen responded. He walked up to Hu Guangde and handed him a sheet of A4 paper. "The list of students who applied for our Hua Luogeng Mathematics Class this year is out. Please take a look."

"A total of 130 students applied. Based on their Gaokao scores or independent recruitment scores, we've selected 45 students for the second round of interviews. Among them, 23 are freshmen from the Gifted Class and Young Creators Class, and 22 are freshmen from the Mathematics Department. We will finally select 30 students, with a ratio of 3:2."

Hu Guangde nodded and glanced at the list. He quickly spotted Xiao Yi's name and then asked, "Is this exam mandatory?"

Dean Chen replied, "Yes, it's all registered with the Ministry of Education. After admission, the exam results also need to be publicly announced. These are necessary procedures."

Hu Guangde nodded. He had been thinking that such an exam would be a waste of time for Xiao Yi and planned to let him skip it.

But now, there was no other way. It was like even for positions with only one opening for tens of thousands of applicants, a public recruitment process was still required, all as part of the necessary procedures.

However...

Hu Guangde suddenly said, "How about this, I'll set the questions for their written re-examination."

Dean Chen was stunned.

Huh?

Academician Hu himself was going to set the questions?

Was he kidding?

These were just 18-year-olds, or possibly even younger!

And he was going to be so cruel?

Dean Chen asked cautiously, "Will you... make it too difficult?"

"Hmm... it might be a little difficult." Hu Guangde chuckled. "Don't worry about the details. After all, it's the written exam for the mathematics class, so it's reasonable for it to be a bit harder. It's all based on the ranking of scores anyway, and there's also the interview part."

Dean Chen fell silent. Was it really "a little" difficult?

Although students who dared to apply for the Hua Luogeng Mathematics Class certainly had enough talent in mathematics, and some had even won awards in math competitions.

But for an academician to set questions for such a group of fledgling students...

Dean Chen couldn't bear to think about it and could only sympathize with this year's new students in his heart.

"Don't look so glum, it'll be fine," Hu Guangde waved his hand. "It's settled then. I'll give you the questions in a while."

"It's been a while since I've set questions for these young lads. I'll try it this time."

Dean Chen sighed, knowing he couldn't stop Hu Guangde. After all, he was the only academician in their Mathematics Department.

Even the Principal probably wouldn't be able to stop him.

So, he said, "Alright, I understand, Academician Hu. I'll go report this to Dean Zhao now."

Dean Zhao was their head dean. Matters like changing the person who set the written exam questions for the mathematics class naturally had to be discussed with the head dean.

"Go ahead," Hu Guangde waved his hand, signaling that Dean Chen could leave.

Before Dean Chen left, he couldn't help but say to Hu Guangde, "Please don't make it too difficult."

Then he left.

"This Dean Chen!" Hu Guangde chuckled and cursed, "I'm not a devil, am I?"

He then turned to Liu Bin and said, "Help me brainstorm. What kind of questions could stump Xiao Yi? I remember you were part of the team that set questions for China's mathematics competitions."

Liu Bin: "..."

His starting point is to stump Xiao Yi, and you're saying you're not a devil?!

Time passed quickly. A few days later.

Paris, France. Institute for Advanced Study. The editorial department of the journal Publications Mathématiques de l'IHS.

"Ah~~ Back to work again."

Editor Evans let out a long yawn, carried a cup of coffee to his desk, exchanged a few pleasantries with his colleague beside him, and opened the computer at his workstation.

"Alright, time to start reviewing submissions for today. I hope there will be a few good articles. Even if just one can be accepted, it won't feel like a waste of time."

Stretching one last time, he opened the submission management software and glanced at how many papers he still had to review. Then, he gasped.

"Damn it, I still have over 50 submissions to go through!"

Seeking collection, recommendation votes, monthly votes, and continued reading!!