After his award ceremony speech, Lu Zhou socialized with officials and scholars before visiting Academician Lu and Professor Tang with gifts. He discussed his plans to study at Princeton and eventually return to Jinling University, then left Professor Tang with his teacher’s blessing.

• Lu Zhou accepted his certificate from Academician Xu, who praised his speech, and joined the students in reciting the Pillars Oath.
• A student asked Lu Zhou for his QQ number, and Lin Yuxiang told him that Dean Qin wanted him to meet city officials.
• Lu Zhou spent the evening banquet meeting officials and scholars, then visited Academician Lu’s office and left him a gift and a note while he was abroad.
• Lu Zhou brought gifts and photos from Senior Brother Luo to Professor Tang, and they discussed Lu Zhou’s plans to study at Princeton and return to Jinling University.
• Professor Tang teased Lu Zhou about finding a girlfriend, then encouraged him to make the most of his opportunity abroad as Lu Zhou prepared to leave.

Chapter Summary: “Bro, Want Insurance?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou deposits his recent prize and scholarship money, bringing his earnings to 1.6 million yuan in less than a month. He keeps the 100,000 US dollar prize check for later, since he will soon be leaving for Princeton.
• After declining an insurance salesman’s offer, Lu Zhou realizes he should learn to drive before going to the United States, where transportation—especially around Princeton—will be difficult without a car.
• He returns home to Jiangling for New Year’s Day and reunites with his younger sister, Xiao Tong, while their parents are out.
• Lu Zhou gives Xiao Tong chocolates, cosmetics, and skincare products purchased in the United States. She reveals that she plans to resell some of the cosmetics to a friend for profit.
• Lu Zhou tells Xiao Tong about his one-million-yuan scholarship from Jin University and encourages her to focus on studying rather than worrying about earning money.
• He reassures her that the family is financially secure now and promises to support her education and any future difficulties.

Character Development

• Lu Zhou is shown becoming financially successful while remaining practical and family-oriented. Despite his growing wealth, he thinks about ordinary concerns such as learning to drive and continues to care deeply for his family.
• His protective feelings toward Xiao Tong are emphasized. He wants her to enjoy her youth and pursue education without carrying the financial burdens he once shouldered.
• Xiao Tong is revealed to be clever, business-minded, and highly motivated by money. She tries to turn Lu Zhou’s gifts into a small resale business, but she is also eager to succeed academically and eventually attend Jin University.
• Xiao Tong’s reaction to the scholarship shows that Lu Zhou’s success inspires her, though her excitement also humorously reveals that she shares his family’s strong interest in money.

Significant Themes

• Family responsibility and sacrifice: Lu Zhou’s past struggles and current success are primarily motivated by his desire to provide Xiao Tong with better opportunities.
• Education as wealth: Lu Zhou stresses that knowledge and academic achievement offer greater long-term rewards than small short-term profits.
• Changing family circumstances: The family has moved from financial hardship to stability because of Lu Zhou’s achievements.
• Sibling affection and humor: Their teasing, gift-giving, and playful arguments show a close, affectionate relationship.
• Ambition and practicality: Both siblings are ambitious, but Lu Zhou encourages Xiao Tong to prioritize education over immediate financial gain.

Character Interactions

• An insurance salesman’s enthusiastic pitch contrasts humorously with Lu Zhou’s sudden reflection on money and future practical needs.
• Lu Zhou and Xiao Tong reunite warmly, with her immediately demanding her gifts and him indulging her despite teasing her.
• Their conversation about the cosmetics reveals Xiao Tong’s entrepreneurial instincts and Lu Zhou’s protective concern.
• Lu Zhou uses his scholarship as motivation, convincing Xiao Tong that academic success can provide far greater rewards than reselling cosmetics.
• The chapter ends with Lu Zhou reaffirming his role as Xiao Tong’s provider and encouraging her to focus on studying rather than financial worries.

Summary: "Speech Beneath the National Flag" (Chapter)

Key Plot Points

• Lu Zhou returns to his alma mater, Jiangling No. 6 High School, to give a speech at the flag-raising ceremony as a celebrated guest—recipient of the Chern Mathematics Award and Cole Prize, and the youngest selected for the Ten Thousand Talents Plan
• The school and former teachers have benefited from his fame (provincial key school status, distinguished teacher honors)
• Since New Year's, Lu Zhou has been at home: tutoring his sister Xiao Tong in math, studying the Goldbach Conjecture, corresponding with Professor Frank, and learning to drive (obtaining his license in 30 days by bribing the instructor)
• He plans to collect his diploma, then head to Princeton for his PhD
• During an evening walk, Lu Zhou tells his father he has $100,000 USD and offers to leave his 1 million yuan savings with him for the family—suggesting house renovations and support for Xiao Tong's upcoming university expenses
• After initial resistance, Old Lu reluctantly accepts

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Demonstrates filial piety and generosity; maturely handles his father's pride and guilt; practical and thoughtful about family finances
• Old Lu (father): Carries quiet guilt for having once let his son pay his own university expenses due to the family's poverty; proud and stubborn, but ultimately softens; an emotionally layered portrayal of a working-class father
• Xiao Tong: Playful and proud of her brother; shows a close sibling bond

Significant Themes

• Filial duty and family responsibility gained through upward mobility
• Silent intergenerational guilt—a father's regret over financial hardship he couldn't shield his son from
• Class mobility: from an ordinary family to international academic prominence
• The quiet emotional gap between fathers and sons, resolved through unspoken understanding
• Money as both a practical tool and a means of expressing love

Key Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & students: His modest, unassuming speech contrasts with his actual achievements
• Xiao Tong & Li You: Lighthearted teenage banter about Lu Zhou; Li You jokingly rejects a "matchmaking" offer, while Xiao Tong defends her brother playfully
• Lu Zhou & Old Lu: The emotional core of the chapter—a gentle but pointed negotiation about money, revealing Old Lu's guilt ("Other fathers threw celebratory banquets... yet I made my son solve everything himself") and his eventual acceptance once the money is framed as being for the whole family, not charity toward him

Summary: "Another Graduation Season"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou returns home for the New Year, celebrates with family, and faces the typical pressure from elders about finding a girlfriend.
• After the Lantern Festival, he leaves home and returns to Jin University for the new semester. His father, Old Lu, sees him off at the high-speed rail station.
• Lu Zhou visits Academician Lu's office. Academician Lu had just returned from a conference in Brussels, Belgium.
• They discuss the 750 GeV excess peak at the Large Hadron Collider. Academician Lu reports that the signal has weakened or disappeared, falling short of the 3-sigma threshold.
• Lu Zhou speculates about whether it could be related to a "dimension" problem—specifically the time axis in pseudo-Euclidean space (Minkowski spacetime)—though he keeps some details vague due to collaboration ethics.
• Academician Lu gives Lu Zhou his degree certificate and graduation certificate, congratulating him on his formal graduation.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: In his final days at Jin University, he is preparing to go abroad for further study. He has been researching the Goldbach Conjecture, learning to drive, and maintaining correspondence with Professor Frank. He demonstrates independent theoretical thinking by proposing speculative ideas about dimensions.
• Academician Lu: Serves as a supportive mentor, having handled Lu Zhou's graduation paperwork in advance. He encourages Lu Zhou's theoretical musings and recognizes his talent, though he also gently warns that the dimensional idea would be difficult to verify.

3. Significant Themes

• Graduation and transition: The chapter marks Lu Zhou's official departure from undergraduate life and his upcoming move to a higher-level academic platform abroad.
• Mentorship: Academician Lu acts as both a mentor and a facilitator, helping Lu Zhou conclude his studies smoothly and offering philosophical advice about the nature of theoretical physics (that unproven theories are merely predictions).
• The uncertainty of scientific discovery: The 750 GeV excess peak's disappearance highlights the trial-and-error nature of theoretical physics and the instability of experimental signals.
• Family and normal life: The mundane pressures of family life during the New Year contrast with Lu Zhou's extraordinary academic achievements.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Old Lu: A brief but warm father-son farewell at the station. Old Lu shows genuine concern, awkwardly warning his son about wars abroad and urging him to be safe, revealing his limited geographical knowledge but sincere care.
• Lu Zhou & Academician Lu: A substantive academic conversation. Academician Lu shares developments from the Brussels conference, engages seriously with Lu Zhou's dimensional hypothesis, and formally closes Lu Zhou's chapter at Jin University by presenting his certificates. Their relationship is warm, respectful, and collegial.

Summary: Setting Out on a New Journey!

Key Plot Points

• Lu Zhou graduates with his master's degree, receiving both his graduation and degree certificates
• He borrows a master's gown, hires a photographer to take campus photos, and posts them to Weibo with "Happy graduation!" — his followers are shocked by how quickly he graduated (only ~2.5 years total)
• He travels quietly: Jinling → Shanghai → Philadelphia International Airport, where Senior Brother Luo picks him up
• Luo offers to treat him to Sichuan food and suggests helping him get a driver's license and car in the US
• The chapter ends with a teaser: a woman with shoulder-length hair (implied to be Han Mengqi) waiting near the airport, frustrated that her phone won't turn on — apparently having tried to surprise him but missed him

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Ready and mentally prepared for the next chapter of his life; feels mild wistfulness but moves forward without excessive sentimentality; already said all his goodbyes before the New Year, showing his practical, forward-looking nature
• Senior Brother Luo: Warm and welcoming, treats Lu Zhou like family; generous (waiting an hour, offering to treat him, practical help)
• Han Mengqi (implied): Shows devotion to her "master" — despite being in class, she attempted to see him off at the airport, a gesture that failed due to timing

Significant Themes

• New beginnings: Departure from one stage of life to another (graduation → Princeton)
• The speed of academic success: Public reaction to Lu Zhou's remarkably fast graduation
• Mentorship and relationships: The bond between Lu Zhou and his "little apprentice" Han Mengqi; brotherly guidance from Senior Brother Luo
• Quiet departures: Leaving without fuss, having already said goodbye — a mature approach to transition

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou ↔ Han Mengqi (online): Brief chat before his flight; she asks about his flight time, likely planning to see him off, then goes quiet
• Lu Zhou ↔ Senior Brother Luo (in person): Warm reunion at the airport; Luo hugs him, jokes about his weight, insists on treating him to a meal, and offers practical advice about living in the US
• Ending reveal: Han Mengqi is stranded at the airport near Philadelphia, phone dead and stomach growling, having presumably traveled to surprise her master — missed him entirely, adding a bittersweet, comedic note

Chapter Summary: “Meeting an Old Friend Far from Home”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After arriving in Philadelphia, Lu Zhou turns on his phone and receives an unexpected call from Chen Yushan.
• Chen reveals that she has been waiting for him at the airport, having learned from Mengqi that he was on the flight. Lu Zhou realizes he forgot to inform her of his arrival and feels guilty.
• Chen sends him her location and soon joins Lu Zhou and his senior brother, Luo Wenxuan, at a restaurant.
• Lu Zhou introduces Chen as an MBA student at Wharton and Luo as his Princeton-based senior brother.
• The group begins eating authentic Sichuan food. Chen, who has a very low tolerance for spicy food, is caught off guard by the chili and nearly chokes.
• In her panic, Chen drinks from Lu Zhou’s cup. When he points this out, she becomes extremely embarrassed and awkwardly pretends to accidentally knock the cup over while going to get another one.
• Luo silently endures the increasingly romantic and awkward atmosphere between the two, feeling like an unwilling observer of their flirtatious interaction.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Shows his absent-mindedness by forgetting to contact Chen after landing, but also demonstrates concern and guilt once he realizes she waited for him. His familiarity with Chen is evident, particularly in his awareness of her inability to eat spicy food.
• Chen Yushan: Reveals that she remembered Lu Zhou’s earlier promise to contact her in Philadelphia, suggesting that she values their relationship. Her initial anger gives way to embarrassment and self-consciousness when she realizes she drank from his cup. Her behavior hints at deeper affection or romantic interest.
• Luo Wenxuan: Functions as an amused outsider. He quickly notices the significance of Lu Zhou meeting a female friend and becomes increasingly convinced that he is witnessing an intimate or romantic dynamic.

3. Significant Themes

• Reunion and companionship abroad: Meeting a familiar person far from home gives Lu Zhou a sense of connection in an unfamiliar country.
• Forgotten promises and emotional importance: Lu Zhou’s failure to remember the planned meeting contrasts with Chen’s careful memory, highlighting the unequal but meaningful importance she places on their connection.
• Romantic tension and embarrassment: Small physical interactions, such as sharing a cup, become emotionally charged and reveal unspoken attraction.
• Cultural familiarity and adaptation: The authentic Sichuan meal contrasts with the milder Chinese food commonly found in the United States, creating both comfort and comic difficulty for Chen.
• Humor from social awkwardness: The chapter’s comedy comes from Lu Zhou’s obliviousness, Chen’s embarrassment, and Luo’s unwilling role as a third wheel.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou and Chen Yushan: Their conversation moves from Chen’s irritation at being neglected to a warmer, teasingly intimate exchange. Chen’s concern about Lu Zhou’s safety and her decision to wait for him suggest closeness.
• Lu Zhou and Luo Wenxuan: Luo teases Lu Zhou about receiving a female friend, while Lu Zhou remains confused about Luo’s insinuations. Luo also helps host the meal and apologizes for the overly spicy food.
• Chen Yushan and Luo Wenxuan: They meet politely, but Luo quickly observes Chen and Lu Zhou’s chemistry. His internal reaction frames the meal as an awkwardly romantic encounter.
• The trio: Their dinner establishes a lighthearted dynamic in which Chen and Lu Zhou unintentionally create romantic tension while Luo watches from the sidelines.

Chapter Summary: “Is It Haunted?”

• Reunion and parting: Lu Zhou, Chen Yushan, and another acquaintance finish a long lunch in Philadelphia after discussing their recent lives. Lu Zhou apologizes for previously making Chen Yushan wait at the airport and promises to treat her once he gets his driver’s license. Chen Yushan happily holds him to the promise, revealing that she is still mildly resentful but pleased by his sincerity.
• Journey to Princeton: Lu Zhou leaves with Senior Brother Luo, who drives him to Princeton. During the trip, Luo explains the differences between dormitory arrangements and recommends a lively four-person suite, partly because of the friendships and romantic connections he made through parties. Lu Zhou, preferring peace and quiet, is unconvinced. Luo also talks extensively about his former girlfriends, nearly putting Lu Zhou to sleep.
• Enrollment and university introduction: At Princeton, Luo guides Lu Zhou to Nassau Hall and helps him navigate the registration process. The chapter emphasizes Princeton’s old, formal, Oxford-like atmosphere and its distance from excessive fame or materialism. Lu Zhou reflects that his previous visit had been almost entirely spent in a hotel room working on the Twin Prime Conjecture, leaving him little chance to explore the campus.
• Administrative arrangements: A university assistant processes Lu Zhou’s enrollment, gives him his student ID, dormitory key, and campus map, and explains that he must choose his own doctoral advisor. Since his situation is unusual, he is advised to attend classes first and select a professor whose research and working style suit him.
• Potential advisors: Luo recommends several prestigious scholars. He suggests Edward Witten for Mathematical Physics, Pierre Deligne for Number Theory or Algebraic Geometry, and mentions Andrew Wiles and Gerd Faltings as other major mathematicians, though Wiles is no longer at Princeton. Lu Zhou decides to consider his options rather than choose immediately.
• Arrival at the dormitory: Lu Zhou declines Luo’s offer to escort him to the dorm and successfully finds the residence on his own. The building is an unusually old colonial-style structure with dark brick, vines, and a mansion-like appearance. Its gloomy, antique atmosphere makes Lu Zhou jokingly wonder whether it might be haunted.
• Cliffhanger encounter: Inside the dim stairwell, Lu Zhou sees the shadowy figure of a woman standing on the stairs. She appears to know him and greets him familiarly: “You’re finally here.” Unable to see her face clearly and startled by the eerie setting, Lu Zhou immediately wonders if he has encountered a ghost.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Lu Zhou is portrayed as sincere, independent, academically focused, and introverted. He values quiet surroundings, relies on his strong sense of direction, and approaches the choice of advisor thoughtfully rather than impulsively.
• Chen Yushan shows a playful but persistent side, accepting Lu Zhou’s promise while subtly reminding him of his past mistake.
• Senior Brother Luo acts as a helpful guide and mentor, offering practical advice about Princeton and possible advisors. His talkative personality and habit of discussing former girlfriends provide comic relief.
• Lu Zhou and Luo’s relationship reflects mutual respect and camaraderie among Chinese scholars studying abroad, with Luo taking responsibility for helping Lu Zhou settle in.
• The mysterious woman’s appearance creates suspense and sharply shifts the chapter from realistic campus orientation to a possibly supernatural or misunderstood encounter.

Significant Themes

• New beginnings and independence: Lu Zhou is entering a new academic stage and must make important choices about his living situation, studies, and advisor.
• Academic opportunity and responsibility: Princeton offers access to world-class scholars, but Lu Zhou must actively determine his own path rather than rely on institutional assignment.
• Cultural and historical atmosphere: Princeton’s traditions, architecture, and academic rigidity contrast with Lu Zhou’s modern scientific ambitions.
• Friendship and support abroad: Luo’s assistance highlights the importance of community among international students.
• Humor and suspense: Everyday academic arrangements are mixed with Lu Zhou’s dry reactions and the eerie dormitory encounter, ending the chapter on a supernatural-looking cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: "Two Choices"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Arrival at Princeton: Lu Zhou, a 21-year-old Cole Prize winner and leading Fields Medal candidate, arrives at Princeton to begin his doctoral studies. He meets Molina, a French mathematician, in the stairwell.
• Recruitment Attempts: Molina invites Lu Zhou to join her advisor Sophie Morel's project; he declines. Lu Zhou discovers Princeton had made a deal with Jinling University because they are betting on Sophie Morel winning the Fields Medal.
• Widespread Recruitment Efforts: Lu Zhou faces a barrage of recruitment attempts—a young female TA hints at her advisor's merits, and his senior brother Luo now enthusiastically pushes Professor Edward Witten, nearly coming to blows with a Mexican condensed matter physicist who mocks Witten.
• Choosing Deligne: After studying a list of doctoral advisors, Lu Zhou selects Professor Deligne for an interview—one of only two mathematicians in history to have won the Fields Medal, Wolf Prize, and Crafoord Prize (the other being Qiu Chengtong).
• The Interview: Deligne quickly accepts Lu Zhou as a student, gives him a choice between joining his research group (working on the Standard Conjectures) or working independently while fulfilling doctoral requirements, and demands an answer within three days.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Portrayed as a confident, strategic pragmatist. He is acutely aware of his own value (joking internally that he wouldn't pick an 80% candidate as an advisor when he is 99%). He is suspicious of others' motives, viewing recruitment efforts as "schemes." He wants to study Algebraic Geometry because it is his weak point, showing intellectual self-awareness.
• Deligne: Presented as a rigorous, no-nonsense mentor figure. He is welcoming but sets high, explicit expectations for Lu Zhou, noting his potential for early graduation (possibly next year) or failure if Lu Zhou wastes his talent.
• Molina: Briefly appears as a persistent recruiter, sincere but rebuffed.

3. Significant Themes

• Academic Politics and Prestige: Princeton's "unequal agreement" with Jinling University; the aggressive courting of top talent tied to Fields Medal speculation.
• The Choice Between Collaboration and Independence: The chapter explicitly frames two paths—joining Deligne's large-scale project (The Standard Conjectures, a "general form of the Weil Conjecture") vs. independent research on the Goldbach Conjecture.
• The Scale of Mathematical Problems: The chapter uses the Riemann Hypothesis as a metaphor for a vast "building" or "mountain," emphasizing that genius alone cannot skip necessary cumulative work (citing Perelman and Poincaré as an example).
• Ambition and Expectations: Lu Zhou's blunt self-assessment and Deligne's conditional offer highlight the pressure and stakes of being a top-tier mathematical talent.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Molina: Polite but firm; he cuts off her personal questions, declines her invitation, and leaves her "dumbfounded."
• Lu Zhou & Senior Brother Luo: Luo's sudden shift from recommending many advisors to single-mindedly promoting Witten frustrates Lu Zhou, who sees it as another scheme.
• Luo & the Mexican physicist: A heated near-argument over Witten's worth, illustrating the competitiveness of the academic environment.
• Lu Zhou & Deligne: The central interaction—brief, professional, and heavily weighted with mutual respect and clear expectations. Deligne offers both freedom and high standards.

Conclusion

The chapter ends with Lu Zhou weighing his two options: joining Deligne's Standard Conjectures project (which would delay his system mission) or working alone to crack the Goldbach Conjecture and use it as his doctoral dissertation. The decision is left unresolved, setting up the next chapter.

Here is a concise summary of the chapter:

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou reflects on Princeton's exclusive eating clubs and how his membership at the Ivy Club was facilitated by David Lawrence, a history PhD student from a prominent Boston family.
• Over dinner, David jokes about working in investment banking, but Lu Zhou expresses his preference for research.
• Lu Zhou's friend Molina (from the airport) finds him and tries once more to recruit him for her advisor Sophie Morel's project on proving the Riemann Hypothesis.
• Lu Zhou refuses, citing the project's detachment from reality, and then makes his own decision: he will work on the Goldbach Conjecture, but with a new approach—neither the Large Sieve Method nor the Circle Method.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou reaffirms his commitment to pure research over financial or commercial applications.
• He shows independence by rejecting Moreno's offer and by choosing a "different path" for tackling Goldbach, suggesting innovative thinking.
• Molina is characterized as obsessive about her Riemann Hypothesis project, and she concedes that Lu Zhou is equally "crazy" for choosing such a difficult problem.

3. Significant Themes

• Academic ambition and the pursuit of high-impact problems (Fields Medal speculation).
• The tension between practical applications (finance) and pure academic research.
• The nature of mathematical collaboration and independent thinking.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou and David: casual, friendly banter about career paths, with David revealing family pressure and his migration from math to history.
• Lu Zhou and Molina: a tense but respectful exchange where Molina tries to persuade him to join her project; Lu Zhou firmly declines, leading to a moment of mutual recognition of their shared "craziness."
  Overall Reference Point: This chapter solidifies Lu Zhou's direction: he decides to pursue the Goldbach Conjecture with an original method, rejecting both the conventional approaches and the lure of a prestigious but impractical project.

Summary of Chapter: "Tools Are Still Best When They're Your Own"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou surprises Molina by suggesting a new approach to the Goldbach Conjecture, implying he might overturn a century of established work.
• He explains that the traditional "a+b" formulation (like the Large Sieve Method) is only a "run-up" to the real conjecture (1+1), not the final step.
• Lu Zhou decides not to join Professor Deligne's project and instead pursue his own research on the Goldbach Conjecture.
• He visits Deligne at Princeton, informs him of his choice, and reveals his research topic.
• Deligne accepts the decision, assigns him a teaching assistant role (primarily Analytic Number Theory), and provides a "welcome gift": financial aid and tuition assistance due to Lu Zhou's family circumstances.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Shows confidence, independence, and ambition. He rejects a safe collaborative project to tackle a legendary conjecture using his own "Group-Structure Method"—a tool he developed from the Sieve Method and Topology. He also demonstrates humility by acknowledging his advisor's support.
• Molina: Initially skeptical but becomes momentarily impressed by Lu Zhou's confidence. She remains devoted to mathematics but is emotionally stirred (briefly).
• Professor Deligne: Portrayed as a wise, open-minded mentor. He respects Lu Zhou's choice without resentment, offers practical support (TA position, financial aid), and shows faith in his student's potential.

3. Significant Themes

• Innovation vs. Tradition: Lu Zhou argues that past methods (Large Sieve Method, Circle Method) have reached their limits, and that new theoretical frameworks (like his own) are needed to solve problems like Goldbach.
• Mathematical "Run-up" vs. "Jump": The idea that groundwork (a+b proofs) is valuable but not sufficient; creative genius and novel tools are required for the final leap.
• Mentorship and Academic Freedom: Deligne supports Lu Zhou's independent path, emphasizing that a good advisor respects a student's intellectual autonomy.
• Practical Considerations: Even geniuses need financial stability; Deligne's help highlights the importance of institutional support.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Molina: A tense but respectful exchange. Molina challenges his bold claim; Lu Zhou defends his view with an analogy (sports run-up), leaving her momentarily impressed.
• Lu Zhou & Deligne: A formal yet warm meeting. Lu Zhou apologizes for not joining the project; Deligne calmly accepts, asks about his topic, and offers both academic and financial assistance. Their interaction reinforces mutual respect and trust.

Note: The chapter emphasizes Lu Zhou's strategic shift from conventional methods to his self-created "Group-Structure Method," hinting at a new theoretical framework in Analytic Number Theory—much like Mochizuki's "inter-universal Teichmüller theory." The domestic support (TA work, aid) also grounds the narrative in realistic academic life.

Summary of "Research in Seclusion"

Key Plot Points

• Lu Zhou arrives at Princeton University and secures a full fellowship (PhD funding), which covers tuition, housing, medical insurance, and includes a $40,000 lump-sum payment. He opens a bank account and deposits his Cole Prize and fellowship checks.
• He settles into a single-room apartment, receives a teaching assistant assignment (first class in April, a month away), and obtains a driver's license.
• Under Professor Deligne's personal mentorship, Lu Zhou studies Algebraic Geometry, gaining access to Grothendieck's original manuscript of Draft Programme and a partial English translation.
• Lu Zhou spends most of his time researching the Goldbach Conjecture, attempting to refine his "Group-Structure Method" and apply it directly to the proposition.
• He goes into a week-long seclusion, missing a lecture. Deligne calls to admonish him, advises a balanced lifestyle, and grants him two weeks of leave—but warns that if no progress is made within a year, he will assign other research.
• Lu Zhou initially resolves to keep working single-mindedly, but after days of fruitless effort over scratch paper, he realizes he has been in seclusion too long and receives a call from Senior Brother Luo about their planned car-buying trip.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Demonstrates extreme dedication and self-discipline, preferring solitary work over collaboration. He is pragmatic (appreciates the money from his fellowship), internally conflicted between following Deligne's advice to seek inspiration actively versus his habitual isolation, and shows a touch of humor (joking about robots and housekeepers). His seclusion and growing frustration hint at hitting a research bottleneck.
• Professor Deligne: Revealed as a caring but disciplined mentor. He initially shows concern after Lu Zhou's absence but becomes strict when he suspects wasted potential, setting a firm deadline and refusing to let Lu Zhou "waste an entire year on a dead end." He embodies the belief that mathematical inspiration requires active seeking, not passive waiting.

Significant Themes

• Isolation vs. Mentorship: The tension between Lu Zhou's self-imposed seclusion and Deligne's insistence that progress requires openness and balance. Also explores how personal guidance (Deligne's tutelage) accelerates learning.
• The Cost of Dedication: Lu Zhou's obsessive work ethic sacrifices health (falling asleep at his desk), social engagement, and obligations (missing lectures)—raising questions about what true productivity requires.
• Financial Pragmatism in Academia: The chapter details the practical realities of funding, highlighting how talent transforms the typical "expensive study abroad" experience into a profitable one.
• Legacy and Intellectual Transmission: Grothendieck's unpublished works being passed down through Deligne to Lu Zhou symbolizes the chain of mathematical knowledge across generations.

Character Interactions

• Deligne & Lu Zhou (phone call): Deligne checks in after Lu Zhou misses a class, learns about his research focus, and delivers a gentle but firm lecture about balance and efficiency, ending with a one-year ultimatum and impromptu approval of leave.
• Lu Zhou & Apartment Manager: A brief exchange where Lu Zhou requests kitchen modifications (stove/range hood), is refused, and internalizes the historical significance of the building.
• Lu Zhou & Luo (phone call): Luo calls to remind Lu Zhou about their planned car-buying trip, exposing Lu Zhou's loss of track of time in seclusion.
  The chapter ends with Lu Zhou realizing he has been isolated too long, setting the stage for a break from his research.

Chapter Summary: “Men Should Drive SUVs”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou meets Senior Brother Luo at the school gate and travels to a Philadelphia car dealership.
• Luo recommends several expensive cars, but Lu Zhou wants something practical and affordable rather than spending his prize money on a luxury vehicle.
• After browsing the dealership, Lu Zhou chooses a rugged Ford Explorer SUV for about $30,000, prioritizing durability and safety over style.
• He pays in full, tests the vehicle, and drives Luo back to the parking lot. Luo correctly guesses that Lu Zhou has another reason for staying in Philadelphia, though he misunderstands the situation.
• Lu Zhou visits Chen Yushan at the University of Pennsylvania, fulfilling his earlier promise to treat her to a meal after obtaining his driver’s license.
• Chen directs him to an Italian restaurant, where they catch up over dinner and discuss their academic work.
• Lu Zhou talks about his lack of progress on the Goldbach Conjecture, while Chen describes her demanding Walmart-related management project.
• Lu Zhou proudly explains that the SUV suits his “manly” style, prompting Chen to laugh and teasingly suggest that a BMW Mini would suit him better.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Demonstrates financial restraint and practicality by rejecting luxury cars and choosing a durable SUV. He is also shown to be increasingly independent, having obtained his license, purchased a car, and driven alone. His awkwardness around Chen’s admiration and teasing reveals his continued sensitivity to her opinions.
• Luo Wenxuan: Acts as a helpful and knowledgeable senior brother, guiding Lu Zhou through the dealership. His familiarity with the dealer hints at a more adventurous or questionable side, especially through his comments about unconventional car modifications. He also remains playful and interested in matchmaking.
• Chen Yushan: Appears more confident, lively, and radiant. She is warmly pleased that Lu Zhou came to see her, though she lightly complains that he took so long to call. Her teasing shows their comfortable friendship and possible personal interest, while her academic workload emphasizes her own ambition and competence.

Significant Themes

• Practicality versus status: Lu Zhou rejects expensive sports cars and chooses a sturdy, functional vehicle, reflecting his frugal and pragmatic personality.
• Growing independence: Buying and driving his own car symbolizes Lu Zhou’s increasing ability to manage life abroad without relying on others.
• Friendship and companionship overseas: Lu Zhou and Chen reconnect through a relaxed meal, finding comfort in their shared history and Chinese background while living far from home.
• Academic pressure: Both characters are deeply engaged in demanding work—Lu Zhou with the Goldbach Conjecture and Chen with a corporate management project—showing that their personal lives remain closely tied to their studies.
• Romantic subtext and teasing: Their playful conversation, Chen’s delight at seeing Lu Zhou, and her comments about what kind of car suits him hint at a closer emotional dynamic beneath their friendship.

Character Interactions

• Luo and Lu Zhou share a humorous, informal relationship. Luo offers advice, jokes about Lu Zhou’s choice of vehicle, and asks for help meeting attractive University of Pennsylvania students.
• Lu Zhou and Chen interact with familiarity and ease, recalling their past as study companions. Chen admires Lu Zhou’s mathematical work, while Lu Zhou respects her professional opportunities.
• Chen’s laughter at Lu Zhou’s attempt to present the SUV as part of his masculine image creates a flirtatious, comedic moment and leaves him mildly embarrassed.

Summary: “Ideas Emerge!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou returns to Princeton after a relaxing day in Philadelphia, where he bought a car and spent time with Senior Sister Chen.
• Checking his email, he finds two messages: one from Vera Pulyuy (a Berkeley student) asking for help with a mathematical question, and one from Professor Frank requesting a meeting about the 750 GeV signal.
• Lu Zhou replies to Vera, guiding her through the use of the Circle Method. She quickly understands, impressing him.
• While reviewing Helfgott’s paper, Lu Zhou notices a previously missed detail that might improve his Group-Structure Method and connect it to the Goldbach Conjecture. He makes promising progress but hits a dead end.
• He finally opens Frank’s email, which asks when Lu Zhou is free to discuss the 750 GeV signal in person.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou is in a good mood, enjoying the convenience and safety of owning a car.
• He shows himself to be a thoughtful mentor: rather than giving direct answers, he encourages Vera to discover the reasoning herself.
• His mathematical intuition is sharp—he spots an opportunity in a well-known paper that others might overlook—but he also feels frustration when his breakthrough stalls.

Significant Themes

• The balance between social life and intense solitary research.
• Mentorship and the value of guiding young mathematicians toward independent thinking.
• The thrill and frustration of mathematical discovery—ideas can emerge suddenly, but completing them can be elusive.
• Interconnection between different research areas (Circle Method, Group-Structure Method, Goldbach Conjecture, and even particle physics).

Character Interactions

• Molina teases him about “chasing girls”; Lu Zhou briefly replies and goes back to work.
• Lu Zhou exchanges emails with Vera: she asks a sharp question about the Circle Method, he gives a hint, she grasps it immediately, and he approves with “Correct.” Their interaction highlights mutual respect and intellectual compatibility.
• Professor Frank’s email is left for last, signaling an upcoming important conversation about physics research.

Chapter Summary: “Bad News”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou receives a brief but significant email from Professor Frank and agrees to meet him at Stony Brook University.
• He travels to New York and meets Frank at a café near the university.
• Frank shows him confidential CERN data from the ATLAS and CMS detectors concerning the suspected 750 GeV excess peak.
• The latest experiments reveal that the peak has weakened, and its statistical confidence has fallen below the three-sigma standard. Repeated experiments have failed to confirm the anomaly.
• Frank explains that CERN will no longer schedule experiments specifically targeting the 750 GeV signal because it appears to be disappearing and collider experiments are extremely expensive.
• He tells Lu Zhou that, although their work and the many papers inspired by the anomaly have been valuable, the evidence now suggests that no new particle exists at that energy.
• Frank implies that their joint research project should effectively end. Lu Zhou, however, declares that he has not given up.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou is shown as deeply invested in the 750 GeV project. The possible discovery represented not merely an academic problem but a major hope to which he had devoted months of effort.
• Despite receiving devastating news, Lu Zhou remains determined and refuses to abandon the possibility that the particle exists.
• Professor Frank acts as a cautious realist. He respects Lu Zhou’s contributions and tries to soften the blow, but accepts the experimental evidence and recognizes that continuing the search is no longer practical.
• Frank’s gratitude toward Lu Zhou highlights the latter’s growing reputation and meaningful contribution to the physics community.

Significant Themes

• The uncertainty and self-correcting nature of science: Exciting early results can disappear when tested repeatedly, and theories must yield to stronger evidence.
• Hope versus reason: Lu Zhou’s determination conflicts with Frank’s conclusion that it is more rational to explain the particle’s absence than continue searching for it.
• The cost of scientific discovery: Large-scale experiments require enormous resources, making it impossible to pursue every intriguing anomaly indefinitely.
• The broader value of research: Even an apparently false signal generated new theoretical models, collaborations, citations, and technological ecosystems connected to particle physics.
• Persistence in the face of failure: Lu Zhou’s final statement establishes his unwillingness to surrender despite the collapse of the evidence supporting his work.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou and Frank communicate initially through terse emails, creating a sense that the meeting concerns sensitive or serious information.
• At the café, Frank presents the CERN data directly and explains its implications while attempting to comfort Lu Zhou by praising his contributions.
• Lu Zhou listens silently, understands the news before Frank fully states it, and presses him to clarify the project’s future.
• Their conversation ends with Frank offering restrained encouragement—“Then good luck”—while Lu Zhou separates himself from the accepted conclusion by insisting that he has not given up.

Chapter Summary: The Last Piece of the Puzzle

Key Plot Points & Events

• At a meeting, Professor Frank formally disbands the research group investigating the 750 GeV signature peak. Upgraded LHC experiments failed to reproduce the anomaly, so it is classed as an error.
• Lu Zhou refuses to abandon the project. He believes his mathematical calculations predicted the anomaly correctly and that the simultaneous readings from ATLAS and CMS detectors cannot be pure quantum fluctuations.
• Returning from New York earlier than planned, Lu Zhou decides to seek comfort in mathematics, specifically to refine his "Group-Structure Method" for the Goldbach Conjecture.
• Inspired by physicist Yang Zhenning's autobiography (regarding Fermi's teaching philosophy), Lu Zhou attends an undergraduate Number Theory class taught by Charles Fefferman, hoping to uncover overlooked "common knowledge" details.
• During the lecture, Fefferman deliberately miscopies a step (Φ(s) = 3 instead of 2), yet still reaches the correct conclusion. He uses this to demonstrate that while rigor matters, logical self-consistency is paramount in mathematics—many different paths lead to the same result.
• The concept of "different paths leading to the same destination" strikes Lu Zhou as the missing inspiration for his research.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Exhibits persistence and stubborn dedication to his theories even when the physics community abandons them. Shows humility and resourcefulness by revisiting elementary material rather than forcing progress. His frustration is channeled into constructive seeking of new perspectives.
• Molina: Perceptive about Lu Zhou's mood; her teasing reflects a playful but caring neighborly dynamic.
• Professor Charles Fefferman: Portrayed as a legendary super-genius who is also a skilled pedagogue, using intentional errors to teach deeper scientific principles. His relaxed confidence is contrasted with Lu Zhou's rigid demand for computation rigor.

Significant Themes

• Mathematics vs. Empirical Physics: The chapter contrasts the "ugly" patchwork nature of physics (parodied via the "all odd numbers are prime" joke) with the mathematical ideal of universal truth.
• Persistence in the Face of Rejection: Lu Zhou's refusal to abandon his calculated predictions despite experimental contradiction mirrors the tension between theory and experiment.
• Revisiting Fundamentals: The lesson that breakthroughs often come from re-examining basic principles, not purely advancing along a single path (both Fermi's pedagogical wisdom and Fefferman's demonstration).
• Logical Self-Consistency: The idea that mathematical truth may be reached through different rigorous frameworks, and that abstraction must follow meticulous work, not precede it.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Molina: Brief exchange outside the apartment. Molina jokes that he looks dumped; Lu Zhou answers "More or less," quietly likening his abandonment by physics to a romantic rejection, then retreats; Molina is left taken aback.
• Lu Zhou & Fefferman: Fefferman silently recognizes Lu Zhou in the back row but continues normally. The inspiration comes indirectly through the lecture rather than direct conversation, reinforcing Lu Zhou's role as an observer seeking insight.
• Smith (student) & Fefferman: A student correctly challenges the professor's written error, leading to the philosophical demonstration about mathematical consistency and alternative paths.

Chapter Summary: A Surprising Assessment

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Lu Zhou attends a lecture by Charles Fefferman and suddenly experiences a breakthrough: he realizes how to complete the final missing piece of his research — an estimate related to the least quadratic nonresidue, inspired by Helfgott’s Fourier-analytic methods.
• He quietly leaves the lecture mid-way; Fefferman notices but says nothing.
• Back in his apartment, Lu Zhou writes furiously for hours, filling sixteen pages and finishing the last step with the Bombieri Theorem.
• This marks the end of his preliminary work and the beginning of his attack on the Goldbach Conjecture itself.
• He informs his advisor Deligne and friends via message that he is entering a critical, isolated period of work, then turns off his phone and shuts himself away.
• Meanwhile, at the Institute for Advanced Study, Deligne and Edward Witten discuss Lu Zhou’s absence. Deligne reveals he granted him leave, though he worries about closed-door research.
• The chapter ends with Deligne comparing Lu Zhou, if only for a moment, to Grothendieck — a startling assessment that shocks Witten.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Shows immense confidence and discipline. Having completed a powerful mathematical tool, he feels both honor and obligation to crown the Goldbach Conjecture. He is willing to isolate himself for months if necessary.
• Deligne: Supportive but cautious. He approves Lu Zhou’s leave despite disliking his isolated method. His comparison of Lu Zhou to Grothendieck reveals how highly he rates his student’s talent.
• Edward Witten: Acts as a curious, respectful peer figure. He admires Lu Zhou’s ability and is genuinely astonished by Deligne’s assessment.
• Fefferman (minor): Observes Lu Zhou’s exit with quiet understanding, implying recognition of a breakthrough.

3. Significant Themes

• Inspiration vs. Preparation: The “99 percent” of hard work meets the “1 percent” of sudden insight.
• Isolation vs. Collaboration: Deligne warns against working alone, but Lu Zhou chooses solitary focus to complete his proof.
• Genius and Legacy: The comparison to Grothendieck raises the stakes of Lu Zhou’s potential.
• Honoring Mathematical History: Lu Zhou sees himself not as a victor but as the one privileged to place the capstone on a two-century-old edifice.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou ↔ Fefferman: Silent, wordless exchange; Fefferman notices his departure and smiles knowingly.
• Lu Zhou ↔ Deligne: Through messages; Lu Zhou announces his self-imposed isolation and promises an answer by year’s end.
• Deligne ↔ Witten: Their conversation drives the chapter’s ending, with Witten questioning whether Lu Zhou can succeed and Deligne voicing both concern and profound admiration.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points/Events

• Lu Zhou wakes up at dawn in his Princeton room in May, having spent nearly half a year (since February) working on the Goldbach Conjecture.
• He completes the final step of the proof: after a meal and champagne, he writes the concluding equations and proves his "Theorem 1" (the Goldbach Conjecture statement).
• He reflects on the lengthy review periods of major conjectures, comparing his work to Perelman's Poincaré proof and Mochizuki's ABC proof.
• He spends three days typing the 50-page paper, then uploads it to arXiv for immediate public disclosure, planning to later submit it to Mathematical Annals.
• He enters the system interface and, after pressing the task bar, receives the notification: "Congratulations, Host, on completing the task!" — confirming the proof was accepted.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou shows determination and near-obsession, having isolated himself for months. He briefly laments wasted opportunities (e.g., the unused $5,000 club card) but remains focused.
• He demonstrates strategic thinking: rather than waiting for slow peer review, he uses arXiv for fast disclosure, believing the system requires both correctness and disclosure (not external recognition).
• He shows confidence (over 90%) in his proof due to his rigorous self-checking habits.

3. Significant Themes

• Persistence and solitary dedication: The cost and reward of tackling a legendary mathematical problem alone.
• Publication vs. recognition: The tension between academic review (slow) and immediate public disclosure (fast), especially for a major conjecture.
• The system's mechanics: Lu Zhou theorizes that task completion is determined by proof correctness and public disclosure, not by external peer-review acceptance.

4. Character Interactions

• The chapter is largely solitary; Lu Zhou interacts mainly with his own thoughts, the physical setting (desk, kitchen), and the system itself.
• The only "interaction" of note is his final exchange with the system: he presses the task bar and receives the completion notification, validating his months of effort.

Here is a concise summary of the chapter:

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• While Lu Zhou enters his System Space (implying he has just solved the problem), his paper titled "Any even number greater than 2 can be expressed as the sum of two primes" (proving the Goldbach Conjecture) is uploaded to arXiv.
• In Montreal, Andrew Granville receives an arXiv alert for the paper, initially dismissing it as a crank submission. Upon seeing the author is Lu Zhou (the Cole Prize winner), he is stunned and spends the entire night reading the 50-page paper.
• In Paris, Harald Helfgott delivers a lecture on his proof of the Weak Goldbach Conjecture, stating that current methods (like the Circle Method) cannot easily extend to even numbers.
• Helfgott is informed of Lu Zhou's preprint by his student, Amos. Initially resistant to arXiv, he prints the paper and reviews it carefully.
• Helfgott finds no obvious flaws in the proof and recognizes it is built on an entirely new theoretical framework. He admits he cannot make a definitive judgment and decides to consult peers.

2. Character Developments

• Andrew Granville: His "compulsive" habit of checking arXiv pays off. Despite his disdain for unreviewed papers, his deep respect for Lu Zhou's past achievements overrides his skepticism, showing his open-mindedness when confronted with credible results.
• Harald Helfgott: He begins the chapter with intellectual arrogance regarding arXiv ("There is only one Perelman”). However, he displays humility and professional caution after reading the paper—he abandons his prejudice, studies the work closely, and acknowledges the limits of his own immediate judgment.
• Lu Zhou (off-screen): Although not present, his reputation as a world-class mathematician (proving multiple major conjectures) precedes him, demonstrating how his past work now dictates how the global mathematical community receives his bold claims.

3. Significant Themes

• The Rigor vs. Speed Debate: The tension between the traditional, slow peer-review process of journals and the rapid, unvetted nature of arXiv preprints is central. Helfgott's prejudice versus Granville's daily use of the platform highlights this conflict.
• The Weight of Reputation: The shock and immediate serious consideration given to the paper are directly tied to Lu Zhou's identity and past accolades (Cole Prize), illustrating how credibility affects the reception of scientific claims.
• The Scale of Proof: The chapter emphasizes that a monumental conjecture like Goldbach cannot be digested instantly. Even top experts, like Helfgott, require time and the collective input of the community to verify it.
• Mathematical Innovation: The text highlights the revolutionary nature of Lu Zhou's approach, notably the "pure form" introduction of Group Theory into analytic number theory, signaling a potential paradigm shift.

4. Character Interactions

• Granville vs. the Paper: His reaction is a direct personal encounter (via screen) with Lu Zhou's work—moving from a "twitching mouth" of skepticism to wide-eyed shock and all-night engagement.
• Helfgott & Amos: Their interaction is a classic mentor-student dynamic. Helfgott scolds Amos for suggesting he read arXiv rubbish, but his demeanor shifts to intense focus the moment Amos reveals the author's identity. Helfgott delegates the printing task to him, showing a tacit acceptance of the student's intuition.
• Helfgott vs. the Paper: The internal interaction is the core of the chapter's climax. He engages in a careful, line-by-line critique and ultimately treats Lu Zhou as an intellectual equal, acknowledging the merit of his methods while reserving final judgment for the wider mathematical community.

Chapter Summary: "Mathematics, LV5!"

Key Plot Points & Events

• Lu Zhou completes the Goldbach Conjecture task, confirmed by the system's own evaluation criteria (correctness + public publication), not by outside recognition.
• System awards an S+ final evaluation with rewards:
  • 200,000 Mathematics experience points
  • 500 points
  • One lottery draw
• Lottery result: a Brainwave Sampler (single-use) — a pen-like device that can record a target's brainwaves within 2–3 meters, reconstructing subconscious memories and thoughts (effectively a limited mind-reading tool). Lu Zhou decides to store it for future use.
• His Mathematics level rises to LV5 (300,000/??) — halfway to the system's upper limit. Other subject upper limits also unlock to LV5.
• A reward task activates: publish a paper in any discipline outside (or including) mathematics at a journal/conference. Experience rewards vary; math experience efficiency is 0.5, other disciplines 1.25.
• Lu Zhou spends three days formatting his Goldbach Conjecture proof and submits it to Mathematical Annals (he does not yet use it to complete the reward task).
• He leaves his apartment for the first time in a month and encounters Molina.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Reaches major mathematical milestone; begins contemplating expanding into other scientific fields, driven by the reward task and unlocked level caps. Also shows caution/rationality regarding potentially dangerous future tech (the brainwave sampler).
• Molina: Initially casual, then stunned upon learning Lu Zhou has already solved Goldbach’s Conjecture, realizing the magnitude of his achievement.

Significant Themes

• System-driven academic progression and reward mechanics (task completion, experience multipliers, lottery uncertainty).
• Interdisciplinary ambition – mathematics as foundation, but not the only path; the system encourages expanding into physics, engineering, etc.
• Ethical and societal implications of advanced technology (mind-reading device; speculation about future regulation).
• Dedication and reclusiveness in research – Lu Zhou barely leaves his apartment for a month while working.

Character Interactions

• Brief conversation with Molina outside his apartment. She asks about his research; he nonchalantly says he solved it and uploaded to arXiv. She is shocked and incredulous. He defuses the moment with humor and says he’s just going to get breakfast. Molina is left processing the implications of his achievement.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the Institute for Advanced Study, Pierre Deligne discovers Lu Zhou’s paper claiming to prove the Goldbach Conjecture: every even number greater than two is the sum of two primes.
• Although the submission is technically anonymous, Deligne recognizes Lu Zhou’s writing style and previous research habits. He begins reading the paper carefully and is impressed enough to print and study it immediately.
• After five days without news, Lu Zhou receives a call from Qiu Chengtong, who urgently asks whether he has truly proved the conjecture. Lu confirms that he has, stating that he is over ninety percent certain of the proof’s correctness.
• Qiu is deeply shocked. He had originally encouraged Lu Zhou to study Goldbach’s Conjecture to deepen his understanding of prime numbers, never expecting him to solve it so quickly.
• Qiu discusses the decline of China’s analytic number theory tradition after Hua Luogeng’s death and reflects on Lu Zhou’s exceptional talent. He invites Lu Zhou to join Tsinghua University, but Lu explains that he plans to teach at Princeton first and later return to Jinling University, where he has already made a commitment.
• Qiu accepts Lu’s decision, emphasizing that Lu’s talent should be devoted to mathematics rather than factional struggles within Chinese academia.
• Shortly afterward, Deligne calls Lu Zhou to the Institute for Advanced Study. Deligne explains that, because Goldbach’s Conjecture is far outside his own specialty and because he is Lu’s advisor, he cannot independently validate the result.
• Instead, Deligne plans to organize a special one-hour presentation at Princeton, inviting scholars to examine Lu’s proof. He asks Lu to prepare slides, a speech, and a schedule. The presentation will effectively become a specially arranged academic gathering centered on Lu’s breakthrough.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou is portrayed as extremely confident in his proof but deliberately modest in public, claiming only over ninety percent certainty despite privately believing it to be completely correct. He also shows political awareness by avoiding involvement in conflicts between Chinese academic factions.
• Deligne shifts from a cautious reviewer to an active supporter of Lu’s work. Although he acknowledges the limits of his expertise, he recognizes the proof’s importance and takes responsibility for presenting it to the broader mathematical community.
• Qiu Chengtong moves from mentor and encourager to an astonished admirer of Lu’s achievement. His response reveals both his pride in Lu and his concern that Lu not be drawn into institutional rivalries.
• Smith, Deligne’s doctoral student, appears briefly as an assistant, highlighting how seriously Deligne treats the paper.

Significant Themes

• Extraordinary talent and unexpected achievement: Lu Zhou accomplishes what established mathematical methods had failed to do, surpassing even his mentor’s expectations.
• Recognition and verification in mathematics: A proof of such importance cannot be accepted based on one scholar’s judgment. It must be examined publicly and collectively by experts.
• Academic politics versus scholarly pursuit: Qiu warns against allowing institutional factions to control mathematics, while Lu chooses to focus on research rather than become a symbol in inter-university conflicts.
• Mentorship and intellectual responsibility: Deligne supports Lu while acknowledging the ethical need for independent scrutiny, demonstrating that mentorship includes both encouragement and caution.
• National mathematical identity: The discussion of the Hua Luogeng School reflects concerns about the decline and revival of China’s analytic number theory tradition.

Character Interactions

• Deligne and Lu Zhou: Deligne contacts Lu, explains the limitations of his own review, and arranges a public presentation to ensure the proof receives proper expert evaluation.
• Qiu Chengtong and Lu Zhou: Qiu expresses astonishment, discusses Lu’s future, invites him to Tsinghua, and ultimately respects Lu’s commitment to Jinling University.
• Deligne and Smith: Deligne orders Smith to bring food while he studies Lu’s paper, emphasizing the paper’s immediate importance.
• Lu Zhou and the academic factions: Though Lu does not directly confront them, his conversation with Qiu shows that he consciously refuses to let factional politics determine his career.