Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Long-Term Academic Visit”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At Peking University’s Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, staff members joke about the many exchange proposals received from obscure or low-ranking foreign universities.
• Wang Feng receives an unusual phone call from Professor Arthur Penrose of Princeton University’s Department of Mathematics. Penrose personally wants to apply for a six-month-to-one-year resident academic visit at Peking University.
• The request surprises Director Zhao Mingyuan because prestigious scholars usually visit only briefly, and long-term appointments are normally arranged through formal university or national talent-recruitment channels.
• Penrose says his visit depends on first contacting someone named Li Dong. Zhao and Wang initially assume this is an associate professor in Peking University’s School of Physics.
• Professor Zhou is asked to locate Li Dong. When he sees two contact entries—“Li Dong (Condensed Matter)” and “Li Dong (Physics Is My Love)”—he realizes the caller likely means the latter: the researcher whose recent arXiv paper has attracted international attention in analytic number theory.
• The chapter shifts to Princeton, where department chair Rodney Ansky approves Penrose’s one-year paid sabbatical. Penrose’s application gives only “personal academic research needs” as the reason, but Ansky understands that Penrose was angered by a recent funding dispute with Clark and may be seeking a change of environment.
• In Shanghai, Li Dong leaves Huaxuan Technology’s headquarters with Professor Liu Ruochuan after apparently discussing an enormous financial opportunity. Li is overwhelmed by the amount of money involved.
• Liu warns him not to let wealth destroy his original love of mathematics and scholarship. Li reassures him, though he jokingly asks whether he might receive another billion yuan.
• Just as they finish speaking, Li receives a call from Professor Zhou, setting up the next major development.

Character Developments

• Wang Feng shifts from a routine administrative worker to an alarmed intermediary when he recognizes the significance of Penrose’s request.
• Zhao Mingyuan demonstrates professional judgment and curiosity. Although initially puzzled by the connection between a Princeton mathematician and Li Dong, he quickly takes responsibility for investigating it.
• Professor Zhou realizes that Li Dong is not merely an ordinary physics associate professor but the mysterious scholar whose mathematical work has recently gained international recognition.
• Arthur Penrose is shown to be influential, proud, and frustrated by internal academic politics. His decision to seek a long-term visit appears partly motivated by a dispute at Princeton and partly by a desire to pursue research with Li Dong.
• Li Dong remains humble and financially inexperienced despite his growing academic reputation. His lighthearted response about receiving another billion also reveals his humor and his awareness of his sudden rise in value.
• Liu Ruochuan acts as Li’s mentor and moral guide, emphasizing that intellectual passion matters more than wealth.

Significant Themes

• Academic prestige and international recognition: Penrose’s request highlights Li Dong’s emerging importance in the global mathematical community.
• The contrast between genuine scholarship and institutional formalities: Peking University’s staff are accustomed to superficial exchange proposals, making Penrose’s personal and serious request stand out.
• Money versus intellectual purpose: Li’s reaction to his potential fortune contrasts with Liu’s warning that wealth cannot replace the joy of research.
• Academic politics and professional freedom: Penrose’s sabbatical is connected to conflict over funding and departmental power, suggesting that even elite scholars are affected by institutional disputes.
• Hidden identity and misunderstood talent: University administrators initially mistake Li Dong for a conventional physics professor, emphasizing that his mathematical achievements have not yet been fully recognized within his own institution.

Character Interactions

• Wang Feng urgently reports Penrose’s call to Zhao Mingyuan, transforming a routine office matter into a high-priority issue.
• Zhao consults Professor Zhou, who initially assumes the matter involves the ordinary Li Dong from the School of Physics.
• Zhou’s discovery of the second contact entry leads him to connect Penrose’s request with the mathematically gifted Li Dong known for his groundbreaking paper.
• Rodney Ansky and Penrose are connected indirectly through the sabbatical application; Ansky understands Penrose’s anger but approves the leave because of Penrose’s status and contractual rights.
• Liu Ruochuan counsels Li Dong about preserving his scholarly integrity, while Li responds with humor, showing their close mentor-student relationship.
• The chapter ends with Professor Zhou calling Li Dong, linking the Peking University investigation to Li’s current situation in Shanghai.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong receives a call from Professor Zhou Qifeng informing him that Professor Penrose has applied to visit Peking University as a long-term scholar.
• Penrose's application is approved, and he will be given Li Dong's contact information.
• Li Dong and Liu Ruochuan visit Yitang Zhang, who discusses the challenges faced by Chinese scholars in the international academic environment.
• Li Dong receives an email accepting his manuscript for publication in the Annals of Mathematics.

Character Developments

• Li Dong gains recognition for his work, with even established professors like Yitang Zhang acknowledging his achievements.
• Zhou Qifeng shows concern for Li Dong's career and academic pursuits, despite his initial reservations about Li Dong's focus on the Riemann Manuscript.

Significant Themes

• The global academic environment and its challenges for Chinese scholars, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions.
• The recognition and validation of Li Dong's work, both within and beyond the academic community.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and Liu Ruochuan collaborate and visit key figures in the academic community, seeking support and guidance.
• Li Dong interacts with Professor Yitang Zhang, who shares his experiences and insights about the academic environment.
• Li Dong's manuscript is accepted for publication, marking a significant milestone in his academic career.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong's paper is accepted by the Annals of Mathematics in a record-breaking 14 days.
• The Annals' urgency is partly due to the paper's prior exposure and informal peer review, as well as other top journals' interest.
• Li Dong decides to publish in the Annals, seeing the earlier "rejection controversy" as beneficial publicity.
• John Charles Fields informs the group that the Fields Medal framework is finalized, with the first awards to be given in less than two years.
• Li Dong receives a red packet from Fields, granting him the 'Passing the Torch' passive skill, which boosts companions' attributes during research activities.

Character Developments

• Li Dong demonstrates maturity in his decision-making process regarding publication, considering the impact on his academic reputation.
• John Charles Fields shows his dedication to mathematics education and international exchange, working tirelessly to establish the Fields Medal despite his declining health.

Significant Themes

• The speed of academic recognition and the importance of top journals.
• The value of young talent in academia and the need for support and encouragement.
• The power of international cooperation and exchange in mathematics.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong interacts with the Annals of Mathematics editorial board and Nicholas Katz regarding his paper's publication and an upcoming seminar.
• John Charles Fields interacts with Li Dong and other group members, discussing the Fields Medal's progress and his personal history.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong requests leave from Counselor Liu to go to Zhejiang University, causing Counselor Liu to express concern about Li Dong's frequent absences.
• Zhou Qifeng signs Li Dong's leave request but expresses disappointment in Li Dong's lack of attendance in his physics classes.
• Li Dong jokes about luring Edward Witten to Peking University, upsetting Zhou Qifeng.
• Li Dong meets Sun Xiang and Cai Tianxin at the Hangzhou high-speed railway station, with Cai Tianxin introducing himself as a professor from Zhejiang University's School of Mathematical Sciences.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Shows determination to complete his biology project, displays confidence in his academic abilities, and demonstrates a casual attitude towards his attendance and participation grades.
• Zhou Qifeng: Expresses disappointment in Li Dong's lack of attendance in his classes, reveals his desire to have a prominent physicist like Witten join Peking University.
• Sun Xiang: Appears uncomfortable and strange in Li Dong's presence, hinting at an upcoming revelation.
• Cai Tianxin: Introduces himself as a professor from Zhejiang University's School of Mathematical Sciences, indicating his interest in Li Dong's academic achievements.

Significant Themes

• Academic Pursuits: The characters' dedication and passion for their respective fields of study are emphasized.
• Absence vs. Presence: The impact of Li Dong's frequent absences from classes is discussed, highlighting the importance of consistent presence in academic growth.
• Humor and Casualness: Li Dong's lighthearted and casual attitude towards his academics contrasts with the seriousness of the situation, adding a touch of humor to the narrative.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and Counselor Liu: Li Dong requests leave, and Counselor Liu expresses concern about Li Dong's frequent absences.
• Li Dong and Zhou Qifeng: Li Dong jokes about luring Witten to Peking University, upsetting Zhou Qifeng.
• Li Dong, Sun Xiang, and Cai Tianxin: Li Dong meets Sun Xiang and Cai Tianxin at the station, with Cai Tianxin introducing himself, hinting at an upcoming revelation or discussion.

Chapter Summary: “The Ceiling of Their Generation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong arrives at the high-speed rail station, where he is unexpectedly met by Cai Tianxin, a renowned Zhejiang University number theorist and poet.
• Cai explains that he learned Li Dong would be visiting Zhejiang University for a biology project and came to meet him personally.
• He teasingly questions Li Dong’s interest in biology, implying that a mathematical prodigy should remain focused on mathematics. Li Dong replies that he actually prefers physics, producing an awkward but humorous exchange.
• Cai then reveals his real purpose: he wants Li Dong to give a public lecture to Zhejiang University’s mathematics graduate students about the core ideas behind his Dimensionality-Reduction Algorithm, especially its connection to his work on the Montgomery Pair Correlation Conjecture.
• Li Dong hesitates because of his biology commitments, but Cai persuades him with a poetic argument about pausing along one’s journey and embracing unexpected opportunities.
• Cai’s admiration for Li Dong is explained through a flashback to an online seminar about Li Dong’s groundbreaking paper. Cai believes Li Dong has surpassed all living scholars in understanding the pair-correlation statistics of the Riemann zeta function’s nontrivial zeros.
• After Li Dong confirms the lecture with his dean, Liu Ruochuan, he agrees to speak. The lecture is scheduled for the following afternoon at Zhejiang University’s Meng Minwei Building.
• Cai leaves after arranging the event, telling Li Dong they will meet again the next day.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Demonstrates humility and caution by worrying about his existing responsibilities and university procedures. At the same time, he reveals that he enjoys teaching and is willing to share his ideas with younger students.
• Cai Tianxin: Is established as both an eminent mathematician and a poet. He is playful and personable, but also deeply perceptive and ambitious in recognizing Li Dong’s talent. His true goal is not merely to provide a lecture, but to expose Zhejiang’s students to the highest level of mathematical achievement of their generation.
• Sun Xiang: Acts as a quiet observer and reacts humorously to the exchange between Cai and Li Dong.
• Liu Ruochuan: Supports Li Dong’s decision and removes any administrative concerns, showing trust in him and flexibility regarding his academic activities.

Significant Themes

• Exceptional talent and generational standards: Cai views Li Dong as a representation of how far mathematics can be pushed by the younger generation.
• Interdisciplinary curiosity: Li Dong’s interest in biology and physics challenges the expectation that a mathematical genius must remain confined to one field.
• Teaching and intellectual exchange: The chapter emphasizes that sharing advanced ideas can inspire students, even when the material is difficult.
• Unexpected opportunities: Cai’s poetic advice suggests that progress does not always come from rushing toward one goal; worthwhile discoveries may arise from detours.
• Recognition of genius: Cai’s analysis of Li Dong’s work highlights the difference between merely verifying an existing conjecture and advancing the theoretical understanding behind it.

Character Interactions

• Cai and Li Dong share a teasing but respectful conversation about Li Dong’s interest in biology, physics, and mathematics.
• Cai uses his influence and personal charm to persuade Li Dong to lecture, while Li Dong responds with humility rather than arrogance.
• Sun Xiang silently witnesses their exchange and provides comic relief.
• Li Dong consults Liu Ruochuan before accepting, demonstrating respect for academic procedures and authority.
• The chapter closes with Cai and Li Dong establishing a mentor-like, intellectually significant connection centered on the upcoming lecture.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The book reaches 10,000 subscriptions.
• A reader gifts the author a grand patron title for "Mingshu".
• The author reveals the book's earnings, which are substantial.
• Side stories are announced, set to release the next day at midnight.

Character Developments

• The author expresses gratitude and excitement for the book's success and the patron title.
• The author's younger brother is mentioned, who advises against impulsive large donations.

Significant Themes

• Gratitude and appreciation for readers' support.
• The financial aspect of writing and the responsibility it carries.
• The anticipation and promise of additional content (side stories).

Character Interactions

• The author interacts with readers through their feedback and support.
• The author's younger brother is briefly mentioned, showing a familial connection.

Additional Information

• The author provides details on how to access and read the side stories using monthly tickets.
• The side stories are promised to expand the worldview and be satisfying.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Professor Zhang Minfang reviews Li Dong and Sun Xiang's Alpine Hawkweed project data and finds it solid.
• Zhang Minfang offers to be the corresponding author for their paper, to be submitted to MolecularPlant.
• Sun Xiang starts writing the paper but struggles with the organization and sequence of sections.

Character Developments

• Zhang Minfang: Recognizes Li Dong's exceptional abilities and offers his support to help publish their paper.
• Sun Xiang: Initially clear-minded and excited about writing the paper, but later struggles with organizing the content, feeling confused and "dumb."
• Li Dong: Remains indifferent and calm, offers to help Sun Xiang check the paper once he's done.

Significant Themes

• Academic recognition and credibility: Zhang Minfang's offer to be the corresponding author signifies his endorsement of Li Dong and Sun Xiang's work, enhancing its credibility.
• Intellectual growth and challenges: Sun Xiang's initial clarity of thought and subsequent struggle with writing the paper highlight the challenges and setbacks in academic pursuits.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Minfang and Li Dong: Zhang Minfang shows appreciation for Li Dong's abilities and offers his support, while Li Dong accepts the offer without fanfare.
• Li Dong and Sun Xiang: Li Dong trusts Sun Xiang to write the paper and offers to help check it later, showing confidence in his mentor's abilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mandatory public lecture on Analytic Number Theory is announced, surprising and intriguing the students.
• The lecturer is revealed to be Li Dong, a first-year student from Peking University.
• Guan Yi, a third-year student at Zhejiang University with a direct PhD track, acknowledges Li Dong's impressive background.

Character Developments

• Guan Yi: Initially confident in his academic achievements, he expresses uncertainty when comparing himself to Li Dong.
• Zhao Lei, Ma Wenjie, and other students: They are astonished by Li Dong's accomplishments and Guan Yi's admission of Li Dong's superiority.

Significant Themes

• Academic Competition and Hierarchy: The students' reactions highlight the competitive nature of academia and the hierarchy within it.
• Impressionability and Self-Doubt: Guan Yi's initial confidence is challenged, leading to self-doubt.

Character Interactions

• Guan Yi and Zhao Lei: Zhao Lei questions Guan Yi about Li Dong's impressiveness, leading Guan Yi to acknowledge Li Dong's superiority.
• Guan Yi and Lin Xue: They discuss Guan Yi tutoring Lin Xue again after the lecture, showing a friendly relationship.
• Professor Xu Hongwei and Professor Cai Tianxin: They discuss Guan Yi's confidence and Li Dong's accomplishments, revealing their awareness of the academic hierarchy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong begins his lecture on prime numbers and the Riemann Zeta Function at Zhejiang University.
• He explains the distribution of prime numbers and the Riemann Hypothesis.
• Li Dong discusses Montgomery's work on the pair correlation function and its connection to Quantum Mechanics.
• He reveals that he has proven the Montgomery Pair Correlation Conjecture using classical methods.
• Li Dong proceeds to explain his proof, breaking it down into four parts.

Character Developments

• Li Dong demonstrates his deep understanding and passion for mathematics, captivating the audience.
• The students, both undergraduates and graduates, show increasing interest and engagement with Li Dong's lecture.
• Cai Tianxin and Xu Hongwei, seated in the front row, are surprised and impressed by Li Dong's explanation of his proof.

Significant Themes

• The power of classical methods in mathematics.
• The connection between different branches of mathematics (number theory and quantum mechanics).
• The thrill and passion of mathematical discovery.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong interacts with the audience, engaging them with his storytelling approach to explaining complex mathematical concepts.
• The students respond positively to Li Dong's teaching style, with some even recording the lecture.
• Cai Tianxin and Xu Hongwei exchange glances, expressing their surprise and admiration for Li Dong's explanation.
• Arthur Penrose and Terry Tao watch the livestream and discuss Li Dong's unique approach to mathematics.

Chapter Summary: “The Worth of Two-Fifths of a Newton”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong delivers a public lecture at Zhejiang University on his third paper, explaining the equivalence between the Fourier Transform of the Zero Pair Correlation Function and the Gaussian Unitary Ensemble prediction.
• His presentation links the statistical behavior of Riemann zeros—including examples such as (14.134725), (21.022039), and (25.010857)—to an underlying mathematical order.
• Through his passive “Passing the Torch” aura, Li unintentionally inspires the entire audience. Even those who understand only part of the lecture absorb the ideas unusually deeply.
• Guan Yi, a highly accomplished mathematician working on the long-time existence of Ricci Flow in higher-dimensional manifolds, experiences a sudden insight connecting Li’s techniques for controlling oscillatory remainder terms to his own research.
• When the lecture ends, Guan asks Li whether weighted averaging could be adapted to curvature-flow energy estimates.
• Although Li initially admits that Ricci Flow is not his specialty, his enhanced reasoning ability allows him to identify the structure of Guan’s problem after asking a few foundational questions.
• Li suggests beginning with the Heat Kernel Asymptotic Expansion and using weighted averaging to control higher-order remainder terms layer by layer.
• Guan realizes that Li has recovered the crucial inspiration he had just lost. The proposed framework could potentially resolve the problem that had blocked him for six months.
• Professors Cai Tianxin and Xu Hongwei are astonished by Li’s ability to generate a meaningful research direction in an unfamiliar field.
• Li casually recommends that Guan pursue graduate study at Peking University under Professor Tian Gang, accidentally appearing to recruit Xu Hongwei’s student. Guan explains that he has already chosen to enter a PhD program under Xu.
• Li and Guan exchange WeChat contacts.
• In a brief parallel scene, a security guard at Jiangcheng No. 7 Middle School receives a copy of Annals of Mathematics, hinting at another character or future development.

2. Character Developments

• Li Dong: Demonstrates extraordinary mathematical intuition and adaptability. Though he lacks deep expertise in Ricci Flow, he quickly reconstructs the problem’s essential framework using his heightened logic attribute—described humorously as “two-fifths of a Newton.” He remains modest and unaware of how profoundly he has affected the audience.
• Guan Yi: His initial awe replaces his earlier arrogance and sense of superiority. Rather than feeling defeated by Li’s brilliance, he becomes excited and intellectually energized. He also becomes more humble, addressing Li respectfully and openly seeking his advice.
• Xu Hongwei: Moves from concern that Guan may be challenging Li to being impressed by Li’s insight. His pride and protectiveness as Guan’s advisor emerge when Li appears to recruit his student.
• Cai Tianxin: Recognizes the rarity of Li’s talent, comparing his insight to “drawing inferences from one instance” and grasping the Way immediately.
• The audience: Many students experience a meaningful increase in understanding and inspiration, even outside their own fields, showing Li’s unusual ability to transmit ideas.

3. Significant Themes

• The transmission of knowledge: Li’s “Passing the Torch” aura symbolizes how powerful ideas can spread beyond disciplinary boundaries and inspire new discoveries.
• Order beneath apparent chaos: The lecture’s discussion of Riemann zeros reinforces the theme that hidden structure and harmony exist beneath seemingly random phenomena.
• Cross-disciplinary insight: Techniques from analytic number theory may illuminate problems in differential geometry, emphasizing the unity of mathematics.
• Humility and intellectual growth: Guan’s transformation shows that recognizing someone’s superiority can inspire curiosity rather than discouragement.
• Innate talent versus formal specialization: Li’s success suggests that exceptional reasoning and structural intuition can sometimes compensate for a lack of detailed field-specific training.
• Mentorship and academic competition: The exchange between Li and Guan, along with Xu Hongwei’s reaction, introduces tensions between collaboration, mentorship, and the competition to attract promising researchers.

4. Character Interactions

• Li Dong and the audience: Li delivers the lecture while unknowingly influencing the students’ understanding and motivation through his aura.
• Li Dong and Guan Yi: Their interaction shifts from lecturer and questioner to potential research collaborators. Li asks diagnostic questions, identifies the core of Guan’s problem, and offers a promising new approach.
• Li Dong and Xu Hongwei: Xu initially worries that Guan is trying to challenge Li, then becomes irritated when Li suggests Guan study at Peking University.
• Xu Hongwei and Cai Tianxin: They silently recognize the extraordinary nature of Li’s reasoning, while Cai jokes that Li is trying to steal Xu’s student.
• Li Dong and Guan’s academic future: Li recommends Professor Tian Gang and Peking University, but Guan reaffirms his loyalty to Xu Hongwei and his existing PhD plans.
• The final school scene: The security guard’s delivery of Annals of Mathematics introduces a separate thread that may connect to future mathematical developments.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mathematics teacher Yang Shengguo receives the latest issue of a major mathematics journal and is stunned to see nineteen-year-old Li Dong credited with a complete proof of the Montgomery Pair Correlation Conjecture on the full interval (|a|\in[0,4]), extending the previous boundary of (|a|<1). Proud of Li Dong, he quietly praises him as a “good kid.”
• Li Dong’s achievement begins attracting worldwide attention within the mathematics community.
• At Beijing Normal University, mathematician Jiang Yubai rereads Li Dong’s published paper and recognizes that its techniques—especially the separation of prime-power contributions and Fourier optimization—could potentially advance research on automorphic (L)-functions within the Langlands Program.
• Jiang contacts Liu Ruochuan to request a meeting with Li Dong. Liu hesitates because of past controversies surrounding Jiang and wants to protect Li Dong from potentially harmful influences. He agrees only to ask Li Dong after his return from Zhejiang University.
• Meanwhile, Li Dong and Sun Xiang finalize their paper for Molecular Plant, concerning the HpPAR gene and the failure of Mendel’s Alpine Hawkweed experiments to produce the expected 3:1 inheritance ratio.
• Li Dong sends the paper to Gregor Mendel through the Azure Dragon Study Group. The paper demonstrates that the HpPAR gene causes parthenogenesis, and that knocking it out restores sexual reproduction and the classical 3:1 segregation ratio.
• Mendel quickly sends Li Dong a red packet. The accompanying message reveals that Li Dong’s research has resolved Mendel’s lifelong doubt about the Alpine Hawkweed experiments: Mendel’s genetic laws were correct, but the plant reproduced through a different biological mechanism.
• The group announces that Mendel’s regret has been resolved, causing a fundamental shift in the development of life sciences in a parallel universe. Li Dong receives the Life Sciences Origin Fragment, bringing his total Origin Fragment progress to 2/3.
• The fragment grants him heightened intuition for identifying hidden genetic laws and expression patterns when studying genetics, molecular biology, or genetic engineering.
• Li Dong realizes that Origin Fragments from different technological fields share one progress pool. He theorizes that obtaining any third fragment could allow him to completely reproduce one selected world-changing technology tree.
• Sun Xiang finishes formatting the Molecular Plant manuscript and calls Li Dong back to review it.

Character Developments

• Yang Shengguo is shown as a former mathematician who has left academia but still maintains a deep emotional connection to mathematics. His pride in Li Dong reflects his enduring identity as a scholar and teacher.
• Li Dong continues to demonstrate extraordinary ability across unrelated disciplines. He is not only a groundbreaking mathematician but also an accomplished life-science researcher capable of mastering complex genetic experiments and historical scientific problems.
• Li Dong also becomes increasingly aware of the enormous strategic value of the Origin Fragments. His reasoning suggests that he is beginning to view them as tools for reconstructing entire branches of civilization-changing technology.
• Jiang Yubai is portrayed as an experienced mathematician nearing sixty who sees Li Dong’s work as highly compatible with his own research. He appears less burdened by past controversies than before and is eager to pursue new intellectual opportunities.
• Liu Ruochuan acts protectively toward Li Dong, prioritizing the young researcher’s development and carefully screening his academic relationships.
• Sun Xiang works efficiently alongside Li Dong and experiences unusual clarity when Li Dong is present, suggesting that Li Dong’s influence improves his concentration and research performance.
• Mendel receives emotional closure. His past self-doubt is replaced by confirmation that his genetic laws were sound, despite the anomalous behavior of Alpine Hawkweed.

Significant Themes

• Recognition and delayed vindication: Yang Shengguo’s continued attachment to mathematics and Mendel’s posthumous recognition parallel Li Dong’s rapid modern fame. The chapter emphasizes that important discoveries may remain misunderstood for years before receiving proper acknowledgment.
• Scientific continuity across eras: Li Dong’s work connects modern gene-editing technology with Mendel’s nineteenth-century experimental methods, showing how scientific knowledge builds across generations.
• Different paths within nature: The Alpine Hawkweed’s parthenogenesis demonstrates that biological systems may follow mechanisms different from established expectations without invalidating existing laws.
• The power of interdisciplinary knowledge: Li Dong’s mathematical and biological achievements reinforce the value of combining insights from multiple fields.
• Civilization and technological progress: The Origin Fragment system is revealed to represent more than personal abilities; it may allow Li Dong to recreate entire technological branches capable of reshaping human civilization.
• Protection of young talent: Liu Ruochuan’s hesitation reflects the tension between academic opportunity and the need to shield a gifted young scholar from questionable influences.

Character Interactions

• Yang Shengguo reacts privately and affectionately to Li Dong’s mathematical success, expressing pride in him despite their physical distance.
• Jiang Yubai and Liu Ruochuan discuss arranging contact with Li Dong. Their conversation reveals Jiang’s interest in collaboration and Liu’s guarded, protective attitude.
• Sun Xiang and Li Dong collaborate on the Molecular Plant paper. Sun Xiang takes control of the final editing while Li Dong allows him to work, showing trust and an efficient partnership.
• Li Dong communicates with Mendel through the study group, presenting the modern explanation for Mendel’s failed Alpine Hawkweed results. Mendel’s red packet and the Origin Fragment serve as his response and acknowledgment.
• The chapter ends with Sun Xiang interrupting Li Dong’s speculation about the Origin Fragments to ask him to review the completed manuscript.

Li Dong’s mathematical breakthrough drew attention from senior scholars and the Huaxia News Agency, while he pursued a new connection between zero correlations and automorphic functions. The chapter ended with him calling Professor Yang to propose collaborating on research.

• Li Dong approved Sun Xiang’s revised biology paper and explained that he had sent an earlier version to Professor Zhang while Sun Xiang was still benefiting from Passing the Torch.
• Tian Gang read Li Dong’s published proof in Annals of Mathematics and considered him a possible Fields Medal candidate, then questioned whether Liu Ruochuan should remain Li Dong’s academic advisor.
• Reporter Zhou Mingyuan called Tian Gang to verify Li Dong’s breakthrough, and Tian Gang confirmed the paper’s validity and importance.
• Tian Gang asked Liu Ruochuan to arrange a meeting with Li Dong and agreed to handle Jiang Yubai’s request to meet him.
• Li Dong discussed the link between zero correlations and automorphic representations with Riemann, then called Professor Yang and proposed doing research together.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong calls Yang Shengguo, proposing they work together on a research project.
• Yang Shengguo is hesitant but agrees to consider it.
• Li Dong leaves Zhejiang University and returns to Peking University.
• Li Dong meets with Professor Tian Gang and Liu Ruochuan, who suggest he consider graduating early to focus on research.
• Tian Gang decides to nominate Li Dong for the National Special Support Program.

Character Developments

• Yang Shengguo is initially surprised and hesitant about Li Dong's research proposal but eventually agrees to consider it.
• Li Dong shows maturity and self-awareness in declining early graduation, indicating he wants to broaden his academic horizons.
• Tian Gang shows recognition of Li Dong's talent and potential, deciding to nominate him for the Special Support Program.

Significant Themes

• The recognition and nurturing of exceptional talent.
• The balance between specialization and broad learning in academia.
• The importance of mentorship and guidance in academic growth.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and Yang Shengguo discuss research collaboration, with Yang initially reluctant but eventually agreeing to consider it.
• Li Dong meets with Tian Gang and Liu Ruochuan, discussing his academic future and the possibility of early graduation.
• Tian Gang and Liu Ruochuan discuss Li Dong's nomination for the Special Support Program.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong returns to an empty dorm on a fully scheduled day for his roommates.
• He receives a call from Qi Yu, a senior from the School of Chemistry, asking for help with a mathematical modeling problem.
• Li Dong arrives at the School of Chemistry and finds a heated argument between a mathematician (Gu Ming) and chemists (Cheng Wei and others) over the modeling approach for enzyme catalytic kinetics.

Character Developments

• Li Dong realizes he's been so focused on research that he's lacked social interaction, feeling a sense of isolation.
• Gu Ming displays arrogance and a rigid adherence to mathematical logic, refusing to consider the chemists' intuitive understanding of their system.
• Cheng Wei, while passionate about his field, struggles to articulate his arguments in mathematical terms.

Significant Themes

• The tension between mathematical rigor and intuitive understanding in scientific research.
• The isolation that can come from intense focus on one's work.
• The importance of clear communication and mutual respect in collaborative work.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and Qi Yu: They have a respectful and collaborative relationship, with Li Dong helping Qi Yu with mathematical aspects of her research.
• Gu Ming and the chemists: Their interaction is contentious, with Gu Ming dismissive of the chemists' input and Cheng Wei struggling to engage with Gu Ming's mathematical arguments.
• Qi Yu and the others: Qi Yu tries to maintain a calm and diplomatic approach, attempting to mediate the argument and find a solution that respects both mathematical and chemical perspectives.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheng Wei mentions Li Dong, who broke a world record in computational number theory, hinting at his mathematical prowess.
• Gu Ming explains the issue in Qi Yu's research group: they disagree on the mathematical model to use for their project.
• Li Dong listens to both sides and understands their points, realizing they were arguing past each other.
• Gu Ming revises the mathematical model based on Li Dong's input, incorporating memory effects and substrate feedback.
• The revised model matches the experimental data, resolving the dispute.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Shows his mathematical expertise and understanding of complex systems, acting as a catalyst for resolving the dispute.
• Gu Ming: Initially arrogant, he becomes more open-minded and humble after Li Dong's praise and realizes the flaw in his initial model.
• Cheng Wei & Qi Yu: They begin to understand and appreciate each other's perspectives better, leading to a more productive discussion.

Significant Themes

• The importance of clear communication and understanding different perspectives in collaborative work.
• The value of mathematical intuition and its intersection with experimental data.
• The role of a catalyst or mediator (Li Dong) in facilitating understanding and progress.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong & Gu Ming: Li Dong's praise and question lead Gu Ming to re-evaluate his approach and revise his model.
• Li Dong & Qi Yu: Li Dong helps Qi Yu understand the mathematical aspects better, and she appreciates his help.
• Cheng Wei & Qi Yu: They learn to appreciate each other's viewpoints, leading to a more productive discussion and resolution of their dispute.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong is interviewed by CTV, Huaxia's public television station.
• Li Dong shares his views on learning environments and his future research plans.
• Liu Ruochuan informs Li Dong about international universities' invitations for exchange visits and direct graduate study.
• Liu Ruochuan discusses the National Special Support Program for High-Level Talents with Li Dong.

Character Developments

• Li Dong demonstrates humility and confidence during the interview, expressing his desire to inspire his peers.
• Li Dong reveals his ambition to win the Fields Medal before turning 30 and encourages others to surpass him.
• Li Dong expresses his preference for staying in China for his studies due to cultural and culinary reasons.
• Li Dong shows interest in the National Special Support Program, which could provide him with unrestricted research support.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and Inspiration: Li Dong's bold statements about winning the Fields Medal and encouraging others to surpass him highlight his ambition and his desire to inspire his peers.
• Learning Environment: Li Dong emphasizes the importance of learning from outstanding people, reflecting the theme of the learning environment's impact on personal growth.
• National Pride: Li Dong's decision to stay in China for his studies and his potential selection for the National Special Support Program underscore his pride in his home country.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and Liu Ruochuan: Liu Ruochuan guides Li Dong through the interview process, offering advice and support. Afterward, they discuss Li Dong's future academic plans, including international exchange opportunities and the National Special Support Program.
• Li Dong and Su Lan (CTV Reporter): Li Dong interacts with Su Lan during the interview, answering her questions with confidence and humility.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong returns to his dorm after a successful interview with CTV.
• His roommates learn about his published paper in Annals of Mathematics and react in awe.
• Li Dong agrees to treat his roommates to a meal at the cafeteria.
• The next day, Li Dong attends a high-level meeting at Peking University with renowned academics and industry representatives from Huawei and Huaxuan Technology to discuss his algorithm's potential in breaking the computational bottleneck in immersion lithography.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Shows humility despite his academic achievements, maintains a casual demeanor around his roommates, and demonstrates maturity and confidence in the academic meeting.
• Wang Hao, Liu Qiang, Chen Nan: Display admiration and slight envy towards Li Dong's success but maintain friendly camaraderie.
• Liu Ruochuan: Recognizes Li Dong's potential and takes him under his wing, arranging the high-level meeting to discuss Li Dong's algorithm.

Significant Themes

• Genius and Humility: Li Dong's casual attitude towards his academic achievements contrasts with his roommates' awe and admiration, highlighting the theme of genius and humility.
• Academic Collaboration: The meeting between academics and industry representatives emphasizes the importance of collaboration between different fields to drive technological advancements.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and his roommates: Share a light-hearted moment over a meal, showcasing their friendly dynamic despite Li Dong's academic success.
• Li Dong and Liu Ruochuan: Liu Ruochuan takes Li Dong under his wing, arranging the meeting and giving him a prominent position, indicating his support and recognition of Li Dong's potential.
• Academics and Industry Representatives: Interact to discuss Li Dong's algorithm and its potential impact on the semiconductor industry, highlighting the importance of collaboration between academia and industry.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong, a freshman, presents his dimensionality-reduction algorithms to a panel of renowned experts at Huaxuan Technology.
• The first-generation algorithm can reduce computational costs by two orders of magnitude, enabling real-time flow-field prediction within a year and a half.
• The second-generation (2.0) algorithm redefines the dimensionality reduction map, eliminating high-frequency oscillatory terms, and the 2.1 version further improves precision.
• Li Dong estimates that the 2.1 algorithm can achieve microsecond-level response for real-time prediction, four to five orders of magnitude lower than the first generation.
• Lin Wei estimates that the implementation of this level of computing power could take only three months.

Character Developments

• Li Dong demonstrates his exceptional mathematical prowess and confidence, presenting complex algorithms and their implications without hesitation.
• The experts, including E Wei'nan, Yao Qizhi, and Gao Wen, show respect and awe for Li Dong's achievements, recognizing his extraordinary talent.
• Lin Wei, as the president, displays his understanding of both technical and business aspects, estimating the implementation timeline accurately.

Significant Themes

• Genius and Innovation: Li Dong's algorithms challenge conventional understanding of mathematical and computational capabilities, pushing boundaries and rewriting rules.
• Collaboration and Recognition: The experts' recognition and respect for Li Dong's work highlight the importance of collaboration and mutual learning in scientific progress.
• Speed and Efficiency: The focus on reducing computational costs and improving response times emphasizes the theme of efficiency and speed in technological advancements.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong interacts with the panel of experts, answering their questions and offering suggestions, demonstrating his ability to communicate complex ideas effectively.
• The experts engage in discussions with Li Dong, asking detailed questions and providing insights, fostering a collaborative environment.
• Lin Wei interacts with Zhao Fangming, discussing the implementation timeline and confidentiality agreements, showcasing his understanding of both technical and business aspects.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qin, now acting as the factory's all-rounder, is overwhelmed with work as the New Year approaches.
• Li Dong appears on CTV, declaring he will win the Fields Medal before turning thirty.
• The internet explodes with reactions to Li Dong's interview, with some criticizing his boasting and lack of practical results.

Character Developments

• Li Qin shows dedication and responsibility in managing the factory, demonstrating her growth from a supermarket stock clerk to a capable manager.
• Li Dong exhibits confidence and ambition, setting a high goal for himself and inspiring others.
• Qiao Fan shows determination and competitiveness, vowing to surpass Li Dong after being inspired by his interview.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and its consequences: Li Dong's bold declaration sparks both admiration and criticism, highlighting the double-edged nature of ambition.
• The gap between academia and real-world application: Some critics argue that Li Dong's achievements lack practical value, raising questions about the relationship between theoretical knowledge and its application.

Character Interactions

• Li Qin and Li Yang: Their sibling bond is strengthened as Li Qin supports Li Dong's ambitions, and Li Yang shares the news of Li Dong's interview with Li Qin.
• Li Dong and Qiao Fan: Though not directly interacting, Li Dong's interview inspires Qiao Fan to work harder and surpass him, setting up a potential rivalry between the two.
• Li Dong and Liu Ruochuan: Li Dong shares his frustration with Liu Ruochuan, highlighting their mentor-mentee relationship and Li Dong's newfound realization about the consequences of his ambition.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huaxuan Technology's progress on Li Dong's algorithm is swift and efficient, with teams working on different aspects overnight.
• Li Dong compiles a detailed technical document for the algorithm and provides theoretical explanations as needed.
• Lin Wei schedules the accuracy-validation stage for a month and a half later, requiring Li Dong's presence.
• Li Dong attends Professor Zhou Qifeng's class on Quantum Field Theory.
• Professor Zhang Lifang calls Li Dong to thank him for his help with Qi Yu's research group.
• Li Dong plans to help Yang Shengguo return to research and considers Peking University's resources.
• Li Dong attends a special lecture by Professor Tian Gang at the School of Mathematics.

Character Developments

• Li Dong demonstrates his dedication and expertise in mathematics, working tirelessly on his algorithm and attending lectures.
• Professor Zhang Lifang shows appreciation for Li Dong's help, offering her support for his future studies.
• Yang Shengguo is tempted by Li Dong's research direction but needs an appropriate environment to return to research.
• Tian Gang acknowledges Li Dong's achievements and invites him to the front of the classroom during his lecture.

Significant Themes

• The power of mathematics and its applications in various fields.
• The importance of a supportive environment for academic growth and research.
• The recognition and respect for academic achievements among peers.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong interacts with Lin Wei, the CEO of Huaxuan Technology, regarding the progress of his algorithm.
• Li Dong speaks with Professor Zhang Lifang about Qi Yu's research group and his plans to study chemistry.
• Li Dong considers helping Yang Shengguo return to research and discusses this with Tian Gang.
• Li Dong attends Tian Gang's lecture and is acknowledged by the professor in front of other students.