Is it that difficult?

The small blackboard.

This super difficult problem, which Liu Bin had said was too hard to be selected as an official IMO question, had been written out by the student before him in a concise eight lines.

Just like yesterday's problem—the same eight lines, the same simplicity and clarity.

It made one wonder: was this problem really that hard?

At least, Chen Liang beside him was a bit baffled.

He glanced at Liu Bin next to him, wanting to ask something, but seeing Liu Bin's wide-eyed stare, he ultimately gave up.

He figured Liu Bin was probably even more confused than he was right now.

Then, his gaze fixed on the student beside him, who was still staring at the blackboard, unaware of their presence.

This kid...

He really seemed to be a sophomore, huh?

What a shame!

If only he were a senior from their grade.

At this moment, Xiao Yi truly had no idea he was surrounded. He squinted, re-examining the problem and reviewing his own solution steps.

"Hmm... This problem was pretty tough. It took me almost six minutes."

If not for a sudden flash of inspiration, hitting on a brilliant method, six minutes wouldn't have been enough—maybe even ten minutes were possible.

He sighed softly, then moved to put the chalk back in its place.

But just then, he heard a faint voice from beside him: "'Almost' six minutes?"

The sudden sound startled him. Turning around, he was shocked to see so many teachers crowded behind him.

And more senior students were noticing the commotion, gathering around too. They were all curious about who this mysterious math prodigy was, so they'd sped through dinner today and rushed over after eating.

Thus, Xiao Yi found himself surrounded layer upon layer.

"Uh..."

He was starting to sweat.

But then, Chen Liang, the Grade Director for seniors, spoke up: "Student, don't be nervous. We just came to ask you a few things."

Xiao Yi turned to look at this man. After a moment's thought, he recalled that this person seemed to be a school administrator—he'd seen him during flag-raising ceremonies before.

But... he'd only solved a problem. Why were even the administrators crowding around?

Chen Liang put on a kind expression and continued, "Student, which grade and class are you in? What's your name?"

They were even checking his household registration now!

Xiao Yi grumbled inwardly.

Was the problem on the blackboard not allowed to be solved?

If it wasn't allowed, why leave the chalk there? Entrapment, right?

Of course, thinking this, he still answered honestly: "I'm Xiao Yi from Class 3 of Science Stream, sophomore year."

The moment he said he was a sophomore, Xiao Yi saw the group before him break into shocked expressions, followed by a buzz of chatter.

He listened closely and caught a few phrases—

"Damn, he really is a sophomore. That's insane."

"How is his brain wired? I could accept him solving the first two problems, but today's problem too? Is he a freak?"

"What did he eat to grow up like this? He solved another one today!"

"Wow, this junior is so handsome! And so smart. Should I ask for his contact info later?"

How did one of those slip in?

Xiao Yi tried to spot which girl wanted to ask for his number, but unfortunately, he couldn't find her. Too bad—her voice was pretty nice.

Ahem!

He suddenly realized he shouldn't be having thoughts like that. How vulgar!

Right now, he should be focused on studying. What joy could romance bring compared to learning?

His eyes grew resolute.

But the next moment, that resolute gaze turned into bewilderment.

"Hello, Xiao Yi. I was wondering—are you interested in the USTC Young Scholars Program?"

The voice from beside him made him immediately shift his gaze to another middle-aged man nearby.

His words left Xiao Yi confused.

USTC Young Scholars Program?

"What do you mean...?"

At this, Chen Liang smiled and said, "Xiao Yi, let me introduce you. This is Professor Liu Bin from the School of Mathematics at the University of Science and Technology of China."

"These three blackboards all have problems that Professor Liu set over the past three days. At the same time, each of these three problems is as difficult as an International Mathematical Olympiad problem—especially today's one."

Chen Liang glanced at Xiao Yi's solution on the small blackboard, then at Liu Bin, who was staring fixedly at Xiao Yi, and said, "Also, according to Professor Liu, this problem was so hard that it wasn't even selected as an official IMO problem."

"And now that you've solved it, Professor Liu thinks you're fully capable of entering the USTC Young Scholars Program."

Chen Liang's words made the senior high school students present gasp sharply again.

What?

This problem was so hard that the IMO committee didn't select it?

That's a thing?

The students who had participated in math competitions had been driven to doubt their very existence by this problem today. Hearing this, the stifling pressure in their chests suddenly eased.

But then they thought it over—damn, a problem this hard, and this sophomore had actually solved it?

What the hell...

Doesn't that mean if this guy joined a math competition, he could cut through everyone and make it into the China IMO National Team, and even have a shot at bringing back a gold medal?

As for the USTC Young Scholars Program...

Compared to an IMO gold medal, the prestige seemed about the same?

Maybe an IMO gold was even higher, since at most six people in the country got one each year, and at least none at all, while the USTC Young Scholars Program took in dozens every year.

Of course, compared to everyone else's shock, Xiao Yi was even more stunned.

"Wait, these three problems are that hard?"

He had thought they were just typical tough math problems for seniors—challenging, sure, but not top-tier. Now, hearing this...

But as soon as he said that, the seniors felt even worse.

What do you mean?

"What do you mean, 'that hard'?"

Chen Liang was caught between laughter and tears. "What else? Did you think this problem was easy?"

Xiao Yi scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Uh... that's not what I meant. I just thought that while these three problems were a bit tricky, if you used your brain a little, you could probably solve them, right?"

Chen Liang: ...

Students these days really had no modesty!

To be honest, he couldn't solve this problem himself.

And the polite seniors around him: ...