Going with the Flow

The issues raised by Shen Qi have been taken seriously by the university. The School of Physics requires instructors to hold at least one Q&A session per month, and these sessions must be conducted personally by the instructors; graduate students are not allowed to handle these questions on their behalf. During the Q&A sessions, instructors must answer any academic questions from undergraduate students with care and patience. This requirement is not stringent and will be implemented on a trial basis starting next month.

The quality of food in the canteens of Nangang University of Technology has been significantly improved, and the prices of the meals have been appropriately reduced.

After the improvements, Shen Qi had breakfast in the canteen. The huge char siu buns only cost one yuan each, and the taste was authentic, no less than that of the dim sum stalls outside.

The yogurt from the Agricultural University here only costs 80 cents a tube, while the same yogurt would cost more than a dollar at the main campus of the Southern Agricultural University.

The most wonderful thing is the shrimp dumplings. The shrimp inside seem to be alive, dancing between your lips and teeth. The deliciousness is simply irresistible.

Students at Nangang University of Technology are returning to the canteens. Dating and having fun outside are essential needs, and when money runs out, the cheap and delicious food at the university canteens is the best option.

"Shen Qi, isn't your hometown better?" Academician Shi asked Shen Qi as they had breakfast together.

Shen Qi popped a shrimp dumpling into his mouth. "That's it."

"Haven't you ever thought about returning to your hometown in glory? Being a frequent flyer must be very tiring, right?" Academician Shi asked tentatively.

Shen Qi understood Academician Shi's intentions immediately, but he couldn't give a definite answer right now, "Sigh, what a tough life."

"The students at the Physics Department really admire you. In short, they hope you can come home to visit often." Academician Shi emphasized the "hometown card," believing that Shen Qi was a person who loved his hometown.

Shen Qi: "Once I finish that project in the US and my girlfriend graduates with her PhD, I should probably go back to China. Academician Shi, I'm a big believer in fate; if we're meant to meet, we'll meet even if we're a thousand miles apart. I'll just go with the flow."

"What's your zodiac sign? You believe in fate so much, Pisces?" Academician Shi is very knowledgeable, and at his age he still pays attention to astrology.

Shen Qi said, "I almost became a Pisces, but I'm an Aquarius."

"Do Aquarius men believe in fate?" Academician Shi smiled and shook his head, then said, "Shen Qi, you are a typical Aquarius, rational yet possessing a strong innovative mind, extremely intelligent and unpredictable. As for me, a Pisces, I truly believe in fate. Yes, let it be."

Shen Qi had a very pleasant ten-plus days in his hometown of Nangang City. After spending a few days with his parents, he flew back to Princeton.

"Little Yezi, did you miss me?"

"A little bit."

"Only a little bit?"

"My dissertation defense is coming up soon."

Ou Ye's Doctoral Thesis, "A Proof of the Yesmanovich Conjecture," is nearing completion. After consulting with her advisor Lindestrass, she is making final revisions.

"Good, that's a good pace. I wish you a successful doctoral defense." Shen Qi's plan is for him to complete the Hodge conjecture project this year, for Ou Ye to obtain a PhD from Princeton, and then the two of them to return to China together.

Ou Ye's progress is going smoothly, and she is expected to pass her doctoral dissertation defense this semester.

The Hodge conjecture, spearheaded by Shen Qi, is progressing as planned. Yu Lei and Ralph are strictly carrying out the Algebraic Geometry tasks assigned by Shen Qi. Shen Qi checks the progress weekly, and he is confident that there will be no problems with the part he is personally in charge of.

Shen Qi is waiting for the final research results from Lu Guozhen's team at Yenching University and Director Wu's team at the Morning Star Mathematics Center.

In late March, Ou Ye ushered in an important day, perhaps the most important day of her academic career.

Today is Ou Ye's doctoral dissertation defense, which is also an important day for Shen Qi.

Before heading to the defense, Shen Qi encouraged Ou Ye: "Go for it, Little Yezi, you can do it!"

"Yes!" Ou Ye was full of energy. She had been preparing for her doctoral defense for almost two years.

"Here, take your medicine." Shen Qi helped Ou Ye take her daily pills.

"Okay!" After taking the medicine, Ou Ye's fighting power continued to increase. She and Shen Qi walked hand in hand towards the mathematics building.

Shen Qi had already found out that Ou Ye had three dissertation examiners, but her Doctoral Supervisor, Professor Lindestrass, was not on the list of examiners.

Shen Qi was even less qualified to be Ou Ye's examiner; he was there to observe the proceedings, and he was qualified to do so.

Shen Qi told Ou Ye, "Little Yezi, you're the best, you can do it," but he was actually a little nervous inside.

Ou Ye's written abilities in research and writing papers meet the standards for Princeton PhD graduation, but Ou Ye's oral communication skills... that's what Shen Qi is worried about.

A conference room in the mathematics building was set up as the defense meeting venue, and three defense judges and two attending professors entered first.

Shen Qi was quite familiar with the three examiners; they were all full professors in the Mathematics Department at Princeton University.

Another professor who was auditing the class became even more familiar with Shen Qi; he was Lindestrass, Ou Ye's doctoral advisor.

Once Ou Ye enters the room, Shen Qi and Lindestrass only allowed to listen and not ask questions, and even less are they allowed to give Ou Ye any academic hints.

Each of the five professors held a copy of Ou Ye's Doctoral Thesis, "A Proof of the Yesmanovich Conjecture."

The three examiners received Ou Ye's thesis two weeks in advance, while the professors who were observing the proceedings had just seen it.

Of course, Professor Lindestrass was very familiar with this paper, as he was the one who guided Ou Ye in completing it.

The only person who hadn't read the full paper was Shen Qi; if he wanted to, he could have read it in advance.

But Shen Qi didn't even glance at the main text until Ou Ye finished writing the paper. He didn't want to interfere with Ou Ye's thought process and he really hoped that Ou Ye could complete the project on his own.

"So Ou Ye proved the Yesmanovich Conjecture? I mean, a complete proof," Shen Qi asked Lindestrass beside him.

Lindestrass: "There were several revisions along the way, but I've confirmed the final conclusion; she completely proved the conjecture."

"Elon, how much did you help her?" Shen Qi asked.

"Based on percentage estimates, over 80% of the work was done independently by O. And you, Qi, did you provide her with some inspiration?" Lindestrass asked.

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you, but I didn't offer her any help with this conjecture." Shen Qi thought Ou was really strong; she had completed more than 80% of the proof of the Yesmanovich Conjecture on her own.

The Yesmanovich Conjecture is a number theory problem. While its academic standing cannot be compared to the Riemann Hypothesis, it is still a relatively important unsolved problem in the field of number theory.

For a given positive integers a, b, c, the Diophantine equation is: a^x + b^y = c^z, x, y, z ∈ N.

Only positive integer solutions: x=y=z=2

This is the Yesmanovich Conjecture.

Jesmanovich himself proved a special case of this conjecture, which has not yet been fully proven.

Shen Qi quickly skimmed through Ou Ye's paper and couldn't find any faults for the time being.

At 3:00 PM sharp, the doors to the defense venue opened, Ou Ye entered, and the defense began.