Here is a concise summary of the chapter:

Chapter Summary: "A Peerless National Scholar"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Setting: Shangjing, an apartment in Yanshan University's faculty housing. Two retired academicians—Wang Shicheng and Xiang Huanan—are drinking tea and chatting.
• IMO Results: The conversation turns to the recent International Mathematical Olympiad, where Hua Nation's team took first place overall: 5 gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 perfect score. Wang Shicheng downplays his own contribution, crediting his disciple Professor Yang Yong'an and the students themselves.
• The Perfect-Score Student: The student with the perfect score is named Ji Mo. To Wang Shicheng's annoyance, Ji Mo did not apply to Yanshan University (or Tsinghua) — he chose Jinling University, following Professor Lu Zhou (the "Peerless National Scholar").
• Wang Shicheng's Grudge: The chapter reveals that Lu Zhou previously "poached" another talented student (Chen Yang) from Yanshan University. Wang is still bitter about this.
• Reflection on the Past: The two old men recall the 2006 IMO, where two perfect-score gold medalists (Student Liu of Hua Nation and Scholze of Germany) went on to very different fates—one became a Fields Medalist, the other became a Buddhist monk, which they both lament.
• Military Exercise News: At lunch, they watch international news about a counterterrorism military exercise codenamed "Mission", featuring futuristic drop pods. Xiang Huanan mentions a rumor that the exercise was actually arranged to escort Academician Lu to Russia for the IMU conference—a rumor he considers far-fetched.
• Wang Shicheng's Decision: Though invited to the IMU conference, Wang initially hesitates because he dislikes Lu Zhou. He ultimately decides to attend, driven by pride in seeing Hua Nation's mathematics shine on the world stage.

2. Character Developments

• Wang Shicheng: Proud of his students' achievements but deeply conflicted about Lu Zhou's success. He is possessive of talent, visibly annoyed by Lu Zhou repeatedly stealing promising students. Despite his personal feelings, he demonstrates a patriotic, elder-statesman magnanimity—choosing to attend the IMU for the sake of his country's mathematical glory.
• Xiang Huanan: A somewhat forgetful, good-natured old friend. He openly admires Lu Zhou (referencing his fame even among children), expresses regret that he failed to recruit Lu Zhou to the Hua Academy of Sciences, and serves as a foil to Wang Shicheng's salty attitude.
• Lu Zhou (off-screen): Characterized indirectly as a legendary, almost mythic figure—beloved by children, a magnet for top talent, and so valuable that the state allegedly arranges military exercises for his travel security.

3. Significant Themes

• National Pride vs. Personal Rivalry: The tension between Wang Shicheng's petty grudges and his genuine pride in his nation's academic achievements.
• The Legacy and Decline of Basic Science: Discussion of how reduced Olympiad bonuses and "quality-oriented education" have made math competition victories harder and basic sciences less appealing.
• The Power of a Star Scholar: Lu Zhou's outsized influence—attracting prodigies, inspiring children, and receiving unprecedented honors (rumored military escorts).
• Generational Reflection: Two aging scholars contemplating their legacies and the next generation of mathematical talent.

4. Character Interactions

• Wang & Xiang: Warm, bantering old friends. Xiang unknowingly irritates Wang by repeatedly praising Lu Zhou (three times in one conversation), causing Wang to choke on his tea in frustration.
• Wang vs. Lu Zhou (implied): A one-sided rivalry; Wang is deeply grumpy about Lu Zhou's poaching of his students but grudgingly acknowledges Lu Zhou's accomplishments.
• Mutual Regret: Both men sigh over the loss of talented youth—whether to other universities or to monastic life—showing their shared concern for the future of mathematics.

Summary of the Chapter

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• A military exercise ("Mission"), featuring newly developed Thunder landing pods and the Orbital Paratrooper Forces, is publicly showcased after its conclusion.
• The exercise’s footage—shot with cinematic techniques—goes viral on Chinese media and abroad, blurring the line between news and science fiction.
• Public reactions are explosive: jokes about one-hour global delivery, admiration for the Aerospace Forces, and debates among foreigners over whether the footage is real.
• The display of technological strength serves as a deterrent, intimidating potential adversaries and dispelling covert schemes.
• Time jumps to mid-July; Lu Zhou has returned to Jinling and is immersed in Riemann Hypothesis research.
• Lu Zhou receives an email from Ji Mo, the high school student he met earlier, who announces he won an IMO gold medal and expects to become Lu Zhou’s disciple.
• Lu Zhou, who had originally made the promise to brush him off, honors it and tells Ji Mo to register at Jinling University when school starts.
• Ji Mo asks for summer reading suggestions; Lu Zhou instead tells him to enjoy his last carefree weeks and travel, warning him to avoid places that spread feudal superstition—"I'm afraid you'll go astray."

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Shows a dry, teasing personality while also being responsible and caring. He demonstrates a sense of duty by keeping his promise, and his advice to Ji Mo reveals a nostalgic appreciation for the freedom he no longer has. His warning about superstition hints at a protective, guiding side.
• Ji Mo: Enthusiastic and obedient; he eagerly follows Lu Zhou’s advice and accepts his mentorship without question.
• Xiao Ai: The AI assistant remains cheerful and helpful, handling emails and coffee, adding a light, loyal presence.

3. Significant Themes

• Technological awe and deterrence: The orbital paratrooper exercise represents a massive leap in military capability, shifting global perceptions and suppressing hostility.
• Media and public perception: The coverage is so cinematic that audiences mistake it for a movie, raising questions about how images shape our sense of reality.
• Balance between work and life: Lu Zhou’s reflection on his own relentless schedule leads him to urge Ji Mo to enjoy freedom before academic life consumes him.
• Mentorship and guidance: The interaction shows the importance of a mentor’s influence—not only in academics but in shaping a young person’s attitude and outlook.
• Humorous caution: Lu Zhou’s cryptic warning about "going astray" adds a playful yet meaningful layer to the mentor–student bond.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou and Xiao Ai: casual, warm interactions—he requests coffee and mail, and Xiao Ai responds with energetic emoticons.
• Lu Zhou and Ji Mo: mostly through email. Lu Zhou starts with a reluctant acceptance, then switches to a surprisingly candid, almost paternal tone—telling Ji Mo to relax, travel, and avoid superstition.
• Ji Mo’s replies are quick and trusting, reflecting his eagerness to follow his master’s advice.
• Lu Zhou’s internal monologue connects his own past leisure with his present industrious life, adding depth to his character.

Lu Zhou prepared to travel to Saint Petersburg for the International Congress of Mathematicians and learned from Wei Wen that Chinese scholars at American universities faced growing restrictions and suspicion. Lu Zhou offered Wei Wen a job in Jinling, but Wei Wen chose to remain at MIT for now and try to produce results.

• Lu Zhou packed for Saint Petersburg and uploaded a summary of his work on the Riemann zeta function for his congress presentation.
• Lu Zhou answered a video call from Wei Wen, who said he was practically out of a job at MIT.
• Wei Wen told Lu Zhou that new visa restrictions and rising anti-Chinese hostility had led universities to restrict Chinese faculty, while the FBI had questioned him over suspicions of espionage.
• Lu Zhou invited Wei Wen to return to Jinling and offered to match his MIT salary.
• Wei Wen thanked Lu Zhou but decided to stay at MIT and try to achieve results before returning to Hua Nation.

Summary: "The Iron Curtain Was Falling"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After a phone call, Lu Zhou's AI assistant Xiao Ai detects that his video transmission to North America was intercepted by an unfamiliar device—confirming he is being wiretapped (likely by US agencies).
• Lu Zhou stops Xiao Ai from hacking the eavesdropper's device, fearing reprisal against his students and not wanting unnecessary risk.
• Lu Zhou calls Director Li of the Science and Industry Bureau, advising him to seize the moment (the pressure on Chinese scholars in North America) to formulate attractive talent-recruitment policies to lure Chinese academics back to Hua Nation.
• Lu Zhou flies to Russia for a mathematics conference in Saint Petersburg and coincidentally ends up seated next to Academician Wang Shicheng (who had deliberately avoided him before).

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Pragmatic and cautious—restrains Xiao Ai despite having an information advantage. Shows strategic thinking by advising the government on talent policy. Also subtly humble-brags about receiving an upcoming award.
• Wang Shicheng: Proud and competitive—reveals his 45-minute presentation invitation with pride and quietly gloats when he thinks Lu Zhou failed the Riemann Hypothesis. His smugness collapses when he learns Lu Zhou is getting an award.
• Xiao Ai: Proactive and protective of her master, but still childlike and must be reined in.

3. Significant Themes

• Cold War parallels: The chapter title "The Iron Curtain Was Falling" reflects the return of McCarthyism and declining academic freedom in the West.
• Academic freedom vs. national interest: Lu Zhou laments the deterioration of the international academic environment but sees opportunity for Hua Nation.
• Surveillance and caution: Even top scholars are monitored; information superiority doesn't equal safety.
• Academic rivalry and face: Wang Shicheng's pettiness contrasts with Lu Zhou's measured responses.
• Strategic timing: Returning home "a year earlier" was lucky—delaying might have made it impossible.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Xiao Ai: Xiao Ai reports the wiretap; Lu Zhou firmly forbids hacking the device, explaining the risk outweighs the benefit.
• Lu Zhou & Director Li (phone): Lu Zhou advises seizing the opportunity to recruit overseas Chinese talent amid the "disaster" in North America.
• Lu Zhou & Wang Shicheng (on the plane): Awkward encounter; Wang initially feigns sleep, then engages in passive-aggressive banter. He mockingly asks about the Riemann Hypothesis, secretly delighting that Lu Zhou hasn't solved it. When Lu Zhou reveals he's attending anyway because he's "probably" receiving an award, Wang is silently irritated—his mockery backfires.

Chapter Summary: "Taken Advantage Of"

Key Plot Points

• Lu Zhou arrives in Saint Petersburg, Russia for the International Congress of Mathematicians (IMU conference), arriving two days early
• On the trip, Yang Yong'an notices tension between his mentor Wang Shicheng and Lu Zhou, and cautiously asks about it
• Wang Shicheng denies any feud but privately holds deep resentment; he advises Yang Yong'an to maintain good relations with Lu Zhou
• Lu Zhou receives an unexpectedly lavish welcome: Minister Grudjev (with daughter Victoria), Energy Minister Novak, and FSB agent Maxim greet him at the airport
• Russian security services assign Lu Zhou top-level protection (Alpha Squad) and provide a direct contact phone
• Lu Zhou's itinerary includes a visit to a Russian fusion power plant before the conference begins
• En route, Victoria exploits "Russian etiquette" to hug Lu Zhou and whispers something in his ear, leaving him flustered
• Maxim teases Lu Zhou about Victoria in the car, leading to an awkward conversation

Character Developments

• Yang Yong'an: Pragmatic and politically aware; relieved to learn the conflict between his mentor and Lu Zhou hasn't escalated into factional infighting
• Wang Shicheng: Still harbors genuine resentment toward Lu Zhou but forced to concede that Lu Zhou's influence now transcends academia entirely — he "alone is a faction"
• Lu Zhou: Awkward with cultural differences and social/romantic advances; clearly more comfortable with academic matters than personal interactions
• Victoria: Bold and flirtatious, takes initiative with Lu Zhou despite (or because of) his obvious discomfort

Significant Themes

• Lu Zhou's elevated status: ministerial-level welcomes and FSB security demonstrate his reach now extends beyond mathematics into national strategy and international relations
• Academic factionalism in China and how personal grievances give way to pragmatism in the face of transcendent influence
• Lu Zhou's personal awkwardness contrasted with his professional brilliance — he's powerful but socially inexperienced

Character Interactions

• Yang Yong'an & Wang Shicheng: Student probes mentor's relationship with Lu Zhou; Wang denies conflict but quietly admits Lu Zhou's unrivaled status
• Grudjev, Novak, Victoria, Maxim & Lu Zhou: Enthusiastic Russian welcome; Victoria's flirtatious hug catches Lu Zhou off guard
• Maxim & Lu Zhou: The FSB agent's casual teasing about Victoria reveals a lighter side to the security arrangement

Here is a concise summary of the chapter:

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou arrives at the Corinthia Hotel in Saint Petersburg for the International Congress of Mathematicians, with heavy security provided by both Russian authorities and Chinese intelligence agents.
• After checking in, Lu Zhou activates his AI assistant, Xiao Ai, to discreetly monitor the hotel's surveillance systems and install a backdoor as an extra security measure.
• While leaving the hotel to get lunch, Lu Zhou unexpectedly runs into fellow mathematician Peter Scholze in the lobby.
• Scholze reveals he is visiting an old friend who lives in seclusion—none other than the famous reclusive mathematician Perelman—and invites Lu Zhou to come along, noting Perelman has long been interested in him.
• Lu Zhou's bodyguard, Wang Peng, becomes cautious upon learning the destination, but the chapter ends with Scholze confirming the friend's name: Perelman.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Shown to be socially isolated (no wife or girlfriend) and career-focused, though slightly embarrassed about it. He is cautious and pragmatic, relying on technology (Xiao Ai) for security, but also open to social encounters.
• Maxim: Lighthearted and casual in contrast to his serious work demeanor, though he has a tendency to go off on tangents when speaking English.
• Scholze: Friendly, outgoing, and sociable, acting as a bridge between Lu Zhou and the reclusive Perelman.
• Wang Peng: Professional and security-conscious, always alert and questioning any potential risks.

3. Significant Themes

• Isolation vs. Connection: Lu Zhou's bachelorhood and Perelman's seclusion highlight the theme of withdrawal from personal or social life in favor of work or privacy, while Scholze's invitation symbolizes attempts at human connection.
• Security and Vigilance: The elaborate security arrangements and Xiao Ai's surveillance emphasize the ongoing sense of threat and the necessity of technological and professional safeguards.
• Academic Community & Rivalry: The mathematicians' conference serves as a backdrop for reconnections and networking, showing the communal yet competitive nature of elite academia.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Maxim: Light banter about Lu Zhou's relationship status, with Maxim jokingly offering to introduce him to places to meet women.
• Lu Zhou & Wang Peng: Lu Zhou asks about security and requests Wang Peng's company for lunch, preferring direct rather than discreet protection.
• Lu Zhou & Scholze: A warm, friendly reunion between two established mathematicians; Scholze extends an invitation to meet Perelman, sparking curiosity and cautious acknowledgment from Lu Zhou.

Professor Fefferman and Professor Deligne debated whether Lu Zhou had continued researching the Riemann hypothesis, while Lu Zhou and Scholze searched Saint Petersburg for Perelman. They found Perelman at his apartment, where Krugman and Albert had also come seeking his help, and Perelman invited the group inside while Wang Peng waited outside.

• Fefferman argued that Lu Zhou had not abandoned the Riemann hypothesis, and he bet Deligne that Lu Zhou had made new progress beyond his published results.
• Lu Zhou told Scholze that his attempts to advance the Hyperelliptic Curve Analysis Method and the Group-Structure Method had stalled for more than half a year.
• Lu Zhou, Scholze, and Wang Peng searched a Saint Petersburg neighborhood for Perelman, and an old man directed them to his apartment building.
• Lu Zhou encountered Krugman and Albert outside Perelman's building, and Krugman asked Scholze whether he knew Perelman well.
• Perelman arrived with grocery bags, recognized Lu Zhou, and invited the group upstairs while Wang Peng stayed outside.

Chapter Summary: "Predicting the Future"

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Lu Zhou, Scholze, Krugman, and the physicist Albert visit Perelman’s cramped, messy apartment.
• Perelman offers water and tea, then directly asks why they came.
• Scholze claims it’s a friendly visit; Perelman loses interest upon hearing there’s no mathematical question involved.
• Perelman recognizes Lu Zhou from his papers, praising his work on the Sullivan Conjecture and asking how he solved it.
• Lu Zhou modestly credits inspiration from Professor Kreck’s 1999 paper and says he wasn’t even specifically researching differential manifolds at the time.
• To justify the visit, Lu Zhou writes down a question related to the Hodge Conjecture; Perelman becomes deeply absorbed in the problem.
• Perelman agrees to think about it and email Lu Zhou later.
• Albert suddenly interrupts Krugman’s prepared speech and asks dramatically: “Do you believe that our future can be predicted?” — the chapter ends in silence.

2. Character Developments

• Perelman: Portrayed as a reclusive, disorganized genius who lives solely for mathematics. He ignores social pleasantries but becomes animated and engaged when confronted with a stimulating problem.
• Lu Zhou: Shown as modest, quick-thinking, and diplomatic — he avoids awkwardness by inventing a legitimate mathematical question rather than admitting he came out of curiosity.
• Scholze: Acts as a friendly intermediary, defending mathematicians’ eccentricities, but is surprised by Lu Zhou’s interest in the Hodge Conjecture.
• Albert: Eager and blunt, he cuts through polite conversation to introduce the chapter’s central question about predicting the future.
• Krugman: Prepared and formal, but interrupted before he can state the group’s true purpose.

3. Significant Themes

• Mathematics as a way of life: Perelman’s messiness and intense focus highlight how some mathematicians prioritize ideas over material comfort.
• The difficulty of social interaction among geniuses: The characters struggle to communicate beyond mathematical topics; Lu Zhou’s invented question serves as a “social key” to reach Perelman.
• Knowledge and unsolved problems: The Hodge Conjecture and Sullivan Conjecture serve as symbols of ongoing mathematical inquiry.
• Foreshadowing: Albert’s question about predicting the future signals the chapter’s larger scientific or philosophical concern, setting up the next phase of the story.

4. Character Interactions

• Perelman ↔ Scholze: Brief and somewhat cold; Perelman dismisses Scholze’s “old friend” excuse once he realizes there’s no scholarly problem to discuss.
• Perelman ↔ Lu Zhou: The core interaction. Perelman shows genuine respect for Lu Zhou’s work and becomes fully absorbed when Lu Zhou presents the Hodge Conjecture question.
• Albert ↔ Everyone: Albert disrupts the polite atmosphere with his bold question, shifting the conversation toward a new, more serious purpose.
• Krugman ↔ Albert: Krugman tries to take the lead but is overshadowed by Albert’s directness, revealing differing styles in how they approach the visit.

Albert and Krugman tried to recruit Perelman and Lu Zhou for a project using mathematics and large-scale data to predict human behavior. Perelman declined, while Lu Zhou postponed a decision until after solving the Riemann hypothesis and questioned whether predicting the future would be beneficial.

• Albert argued that aggregated data on human activity could enable predictions about the future, while Scholze and Perelman doubted the idea’s feasibility and value.
• Lu Zhou compared Albert’s proposal to Asimov’s psychohistory and asked what predicting collective behavior would accomplish.
• Albert and Krugman revealed they had come to persuade Perelman to join their project, but Perelman firmly turned them down and Scholze showed little interest.
• Lu Zhou said he would consider the project only after solving the Riemann hypothesis, leaving Albert disappointed.
• Krugman argued that scholars should study the theory without deciding whether its eventual applications would be good or evil, and Lu Zhou agreed to discuss it further if they had the chance.

After visiting Perelman, Lu Zhou learned that Faltings hoped to recruit him for a major plan that Scholze would explain at the congress. Back at the hotel, Lu Zhou investigated Albert-László Barabási and prepared for his upcoming congress presentation and visit to the Helios fusion power station.

• Scholze told Lu Zhou that Faltings had asked him to invite Perelman to the University of Bonn for a grand plan, which Faltings would discuss in his presentation.
• Lu Zhou returned to the hotel, recorded the day's news, and worked on his proof of the Riemann Hypothesis.
• Lu Zhou asked Xiao Ai to research Albert-László Barabási and read about his work on network theory and predicting collective behavior.
• Lu Zhou remembered that he would visit East Asia Power's Helios fusion power station the next morning and give a presentation at the International Congress of Mathematicians two days later.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou travels to Russia for the ignition ceremony of the Helios Nuclear Power Plant, the first overseas project using the reactor core from East Asia Power (Hua Nation).
• He is accompanied by Russian Energy Minister Novak, who gives a lighthearted myth-themed explanation about Helios.
• The ignition date had been delayed by a week solely to accommodate Lu Zhou's schedule and the minister's political agenda, causing discontent among Rosatom staff.
• At the ceremony, Minister Novak presses the ignition button with great solemnity. Initially, the event seems successful, with applause and cheering.
• However, an engineer rushes in and reports that the reactor core "doesn't seem to have ignited." The celebration abruptly collapses into tension and worry.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Remains observant and cautious; he notices anomalies in the core data immediately, showing his deep technical expertise. He is focused on academic matters, not myths or ceremony, and is not flustered by the crisis yet.
• Minister Novak: Initially jovial and theatrical, he becomes visibly anxious and cold with sweat when the failure is announced, highlighting his political stake in the event.
• Academician Vasily: Friendly and welcoming toward Lu Zhou, but his expression turns grave when the anomaly is detected, suggesting he is technically astute and concerned.
• Lermontov: Stern and resentful of the delay, representing the operational staff's frustration. He is less enthusiastic than Vasily.
• Academician Wang Zengguang: Appears unexpectedly as the representative of Hua Nation's Nuclear Industry Group; his experience and calm demeanor add gravity to the situation.

Significant Themes

• Technological ambition vs. reality: The ceremony emphasizes the "divine" achievement of fusion power, but the failure reminds everyone that reality can break the narrative of flawless progress.
• International cooperation and dependency: East Asia Power holds a near-monopoly on reactor cores, and Russia must rely on Hua Nation's technology, creating tension despite friendship rhetoric.
• Political showmanship vs. engineering integrity: The ignition date is shifted for political convenience, and the public display contrasts sharply with the underlying technical risks and dissatisfaction among engineers.
• Myth and modernity: The chapter opens with solar mythology, only to juxtapose it with the fragility of human engineering.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou and Novak: Polite but distant. Novak tries to engage Lu Zhou with mythology; Lu Zhou declines, prioritizing academic matters.
• Lu Zhou and Vasily: Warm and collegial; Vasily greets him as a friend.
• Lu Zhou and Lermontov: Brief and cold; Lermontov is curt, reflecting resentment over the schedule delay.
• Lu Zhou and Wang Zengguang: Surprised but friendly; Wang reveals he arrived a week earlier as the project's representative.
• Novak and the engineers: After the failure, Novak's composure cracks as he demands to know what went wrong, revealing the pressure he is under and the breakdown of the celebratory mood.

Chapter Summary: "Failed to Ignite"

Key Plot Points

• The Helios Fusion Power Plant in Russia fails to ignite during its ceremony, causing immediate crisis
• Rosatom engineers cannot find the problem; the reactor core is treated as a "black box" due to Chinese proprietary technology
• Lermontov (Rosatom head) accuses the Chinese of providing inferior products and demands full inspection technology access
• Minister Novak's position wavers politically, leaning toward Lermontov's demands
• Lu Zhou, silent throughout, requests Plasma Turbulence monitoring data
• After scanning the data in five minutes, Lu Zhou declares the problem is neither the core nor the power plant—but the power grid

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Displays calm, decisive problem-solving; uses his expertise in plasma physics/mathematics to identify the true source of failure quickly
• Academician Wang Zengguang: Hot-tempered but professional; defends Chinese workmanship; reluctantly bears the pressure of contract obligations
• Lermontov: Confrontational and prejudiced; quick to blame the Chinese; remains skeptical even after Lu Zhou's breakthrough
• Minister Novak: Politically motivated; subtly sides with Lermontov despite attempts at diplomacy, revealing pressure from career stakes

Significant Themes

• Technological sovereignty vs. cooperation: The tension between proprietary technology protections and joint project accountability
• Geopolitics of energy: The fusion plant is tied to Russia's energy future and Novak's political career
• Prejudice in engineering disputes: Lermontov's ill-founded accusations vs. evidence-based diagnosis
• Interdisciplinary thinking: Lu Zhou's background lets him see what nuclear engineers missed

Character Interactions

• Lermontov interrupts and insults Chinese engineers; Wang counters heatedly
• Novak tries to placate Wang but reveals his true alignment by avoiding confrontation with Lermontov
• Vasily attempts to mediate without success
• Lu Zhou initially stays silent, then makes a dramatic entrance into the dispute by requesting unusual data and delivering a calm, certain verdict that stuns both sides

Summary: "Active Protection Mechanism"

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• The Helios fusion core failed to ignite during a ceremony in Russia. Lu Zhou claims the issue is not the core, the nuclear power plant, or the batteries, but Russia's external power grid.
• At the meeting, Minister Novak describes their planned grid adjustments (e.g., reducing thermal plant output, shutting down units at the Leningrad NPP), but Lu Zhou counters that the grid refuses to accept even the slightest amount of electricity from Helios.
• Lu Zhou explains that the core's active protection mechanism was triggered by this grid incompatibility, preventing what could have been a major nuclear accident (plasma melting through the core at hundreds of millions of degrees).
• Lu Zhou suggests the issue is an EMS compatibility problem or human interference, and offers to prove his calculations on the spot.
• The ignition ceremony is postponed. Russian Ministry of Energy officials begin investigating the power grid.
• Afterward, Lu Zhou shares a meal with Academician Wang, who explains the deeper political and financial implications of the failure (insurance claims, potential extortion for fusion technology).

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Confident, direct, and assertive. He defends himself as a mathematician and shareholder rather than a power-grid expert, using hard data to back his claims. He refuses to over-explain to Lermontov, taunting his "IQ."
• Academician Wang Zengguang: Pragmatic and experienced in international politics. He shifts from gratitude toward Lu Zhou to a strategic discussion of how to protect Hua Nation's technological advantage. He laughs off Lu Zhou's "shareholder" comment, showing their friendly rapport.
• Lermontov: Hostile, defensive, and dismissive. He mocks Lu Zhou's expertise, reacts aggressively to the nuclear-accident warning, and struggles to regain composure when challenged. He is physically restrained only by Maxim's presence.
• Minister Novak: Professional and cautious, absorbing Lu Zhou's information and acting on it without argument.

3. Significant Themes

• Technological sovereignty & leverage: The lack of a third-party testing institution means Hua Nation must maintain a 10-year tech lead and refuse to hand over testing technology or complete fusion knowledge to Russia.
• Trust & skepticism between nations: The failure exposes underlying political friction. Lermontov's suspicion mirrors a broader geopolitical mistrust; Academician Wang notes Russia is relatively friendly compared to other powers.
• Safety & responsibility: The active protection mechanism is framed as a success, preventing a disaster, rather than simply a failure.
• Securing critical infrastructure: Lu Zhou's warning suggests that power-grid integration (EMS) must be part of future project scope.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou vs. Lermontov: Direct confrontation. Lu Zhou systematically dismantles Lermontov's skepticism, then refuses to offer more than a "demonstration" of his calculations, questioning Lermontov's ability to understand them. Lermontov nearly resorts to physical confrontation, but backs down under Maxim's gaze.
• Lu Zhou & Wang Zengguang: Warm, frank colleagues. Wang toasts Lu Zhou's contribution, calls him a "damn tycoon" in jest, and outlines the commercial-political strategy needed for the aftermath.
• Lu Zhou & Minister Novak: Lu Zhou is pointed and urgent; Novak responds methodically, immediately arranging engineers to check the power-grid issue.

Minister Novak discovered that someone had deliberately tampered with the power grid’s EMS system, blocking Helios’s connection and potentially endangering its reactor. He declared the incident a national security matter and said the Federal Security Service would take over the investigation.

• Minister Novak inspected the Saint Petersburg power grid’s server room while Oleg insisted the grid had no problems.
• A technician found that the EMS had approved Helios’s output requests without processing them and that someone had manually altered the system’s code.
• Minister Novak and Academician Vasily realized that the tampering could have caused severe damage if Helios’s reactor had ignited.
• Minister Novak ordered an investigation, warned Oleg to cooperate, and said he would report the suspected sabotage to the Federal Security Service.

Maxim warned Lu Zhou that a cyberattack on Saint Petersburg’s power grid might have been intended to kill him, and advised him to stay inside the hotel. As mathematicians arrived for the IMU Congress, Lu Zhou reunited with Vera and other familiar faces, but remained worried about Vera’s health.

• Maxim told Lu Zhou that hackers had compromised the city’s power grid and that authorities believed the attack might have been a premeditated attempt to murder him.
• Lu Zhou agreed to limit his activities to the hotel while officials investigated the threat.
• Scholars including Deligne, Fefferman, and Faltings arrived for the IMU Congress as Russia postponed the Helios Ignition Project and officials made arrests related to the power company.
• Lu Zhou reunited with Vera and Molina, but Molina hinted that Vera was hiding something about her health and Vera left without explaining.
• Lu Zhou greeted Hardy, who introduced his new wife and described combining their honeymoon with the congress, and then met Qin Yue.

Lu Zhou received the Gauss Prize at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Saint Petersburg. When Vera Puyuyi won the first Fields Medal, Lu Zhou was stunned and unlocked a hidden achievement.

• Lu Zhou overheard attendees discussing possible Fields Medal winners, including Vera Puyuyi, and realized she had kept her achievements from him.
• Professor Shigefumi Mori presented Lu Zhou with the Gauss Prize, and Lu Zhou joked that he might return for another award.
• Lu Zhou took his reserved seat and watched the ceremony continue through the Chern Mathematics Award and the Leelavati Prize.
• Professor Shigefumi Mori announced that Vera Puyuyi had won the first Fields Medal for proving the Collatz Conjecture.
• Lu Zhou was surprised by Vera Puyuyi's win and saw a system notification that he had unlocked a hidden achievement.

Vera Pulyuy won the Fields Medal, prompting mathematicians to reflect on her talent and Lu Zhou’s influence as a teacher. As the ceremony continued, Lu Zhou unlocked a rare system reward called “Void Memory A” and cautiously investigated it.

• Vera Pulyuy received the Fields Medal, and Xu Chenyang and Zhang Wei discussed her achievement and the future of Hua Nation’s mathematics community.
• Academician Wang Shicheng reconsidered whether Lu Zhou had been right to take a promising student, while Deligne and Fefferman debated the role of political considerations in Vera’s award.
• Lu Zhou entered System Space and unlocked the “Master Teacher, Outstanding Disciple” achievement, receiving experience points and the rare sample “Void Memory A.”
• Lu Zhou opened his inventory, touched the strange purple object, felt pain for the first time in System Space, and decided to wait until he was somewhere quiet before testing it further.

Summary of Chapter 1017

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• CTV broadcasts the IMU conference live, reporting Lu Zhou’s Gauss Prize win; public reaction is notably muted due to his history of achievements.
• Ji Mo, who had secretly applied to Jinling University instead of Yanshan, reveals this to his father during the lunchtime news. His father initially rages, but Ji Mo justifies the choice by revealing that Lu Zhou has personally accepted him as a student.
• At the conference, Vera Pulyuy (a 26-year-old woman and former student of Lu Zhou) wins the Fields Medal, causing controversy and heated debate on MathOverflow.
• Lu Zhou receives a text from Xiao Ai offering to find Vera’s room, but he declines. He reflects on having unresolved feelings/questions concerning Vera.

2. Character Developments

• Ji Mo: Shows ambition and independence by choosing Jinling University over the traditionally prestigious Yanshan/Tsinghua, and demonstrates pride in his future under Lu Zhou.
• Ji Zhong: Transitions from anger to reluctant acceptance, prioritizing his son’s career prospects over tradition.
• Lu Zhou: Reveals inner hesitation and personal discomfort regarding Vera—he wants to avoid a conversation he does not know how to handle, hinting at unresolved emotional tension.

3. Significant Themes

• Academic Prestige vs. Practical Career: Ji Mo’s father values job prospects; Ji Mo values dreams and mentorship.
• Gender and Age Bias in Mathematics: The controversy over Vera’s Fields Medal highlights lingering prejudices.
• Public Perception of Achievement: Repeated awards numb public excitement; recognition is seen as routine.
• Personal vs. Professional Relationships: Lu Zhou’s discomfort with Vera points to the emotional weight behind intellectual success.

4. Character Interactions

• Ji Mo & Ji Zhong: A heated family argument, culminating in Ji Mo’s explanation of Lu Zhou’s mentorship and his father’s reluctant acceptance.
• Lu Zhou & Xiao Ai: Brief text exchange; Xiao Ai suggests helping him locate Vera, but Lu Zhou refuses, revealing his conflicted state.
• Vera (off-stage): Her award is discussed by the public, but she does not appear directly; her absence drives Lu Zhou’s internal struggle.

Summary: Professor Lu, Absentminded

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• A banquet is held at the Klinisia Hotel to celebrate the four Fields Medal winners, but Vera Puyuyi (one of the winners) is notably absent, disappointing many attendees.
• Lu Zhou is distracted throughout the banquet by a mysterious purple orb ("Void Memory") in his System Space inventory, which radiates an ominous aura.
• After the banquet, Lu Zhou returns to his hotel room, instructs Wang Peng not to disturb him, then enters the System Space to investigate the orb.
• He touches the orb, initially feeling a warm, sponge-like sensation. The tendrils suddenly swell violently, wrap around his arm, and swallow his entire consciousness into darkness.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Shows his characteristic stubbornness and curiosity. Despite the orb's ominous nature, he chooses to engage with it, driven by the desire to uncover its secrets. He is also introspective about the nature of right and wrong answers, reflecting a philosophical strain in his thinking.
• Professor Fefferman: Portrayed as a wise, humorous mentor figure. He notices Lu Zhou's distraction, teases him about Vera, and offers sincere life advice about regret and the irreversibility of time.
• Wang Peng: Provides comic relief, completely misinterpreting Lu Zhou's instructions to not be disturbed as a hint about a private romantic encounter ("it would be more worrying if there were absolutely nothing").

3. Significant Themes

• The futility of overthinking: The opening metaphor (carving a mark on a moving boat to find a lost sword) reflects Lu Zhou's realization that not every question has a fixed right/wrong answer, and obsessing over it may be an act of futility.
• Regret and mortality: Fefferman's advice stresses that "you only get one life," and that time cannot be reversed—urging decisiveness and spontaneity.
• Consciousness vs. reality: The purple orb exists only within the System Space, yet it affects Lu Zhou's consciousness powerfully, blurring the line between mental and physical reality.
• Risky curiosity: Lu Zhou knowingly touches a dangerous unknown item, reflecting the tension between scientific curiosity and self-preservation.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Fefferman: A friendly, warm exchange over red wine. Fefferman humorously calls out Lu Zhou's absentmindedness, asks if it's because of Vera (Lu Zhou denies), and they briefly chat about the Riemann zeta function. Fefferman ends with heartfelt counsel, patting him on the shoulder.
• Lu Zhou & Wang Peng: Lu Zhou gives escalating, slightly paranoid instructions (don't disturb unless important; call before anything; ignore strange noises). Wang Peng misunderstands and implies Lu Zhou is having a private liaison, which Lu Zhou doesn't catch onto.
• Minor interaction: Krugman (economist) and Albert (physicist) get drunkenly escorted out of the banquet, amusing/darkening the mood of nearby guests.

Lu Zhou explored a vast, lifeless city of black metal inside the Void Memory and discovered it was an immense computer cooled by superfluid helium. As the vision ended, he recognized a golden cube like one he had seen before, but it shattered into light and vanished with him into the void.

• Lu Zhou regained his senses while falling toward a deserted, steel-covered city and was gently slowed before reaching the ground.
• Lu Zhou found an entrance in a mirror-smooth obelisk and entered a building filled with blade-shaped, server-like structures.
• Lu Zhou reached a central chamber and identified the pale blue-lit pool as likely liquid helium cooling the building's machinery.
• Lu Zhou plunged his hands into the superfluid pool and retrieved a golden cube bearing patterns like the servers.
• Lu Zhou recognized the cube as resembling a blackened one he had seen before, then a powerful force shattered the scene and pulled him and the cube into the void.