Cheng Che closed his eyes, and the effect of the [ Burst of Inspiration ] struck his brain like a lightning bolt.
The number on the intelligence panel jumped to 99.
He didn't see it, nor did he have time to look.
All his attention was focused on the infinitely unfolding [ Scratch Paper ] in his mind.
The proof of the [ Integer-Coefficient Polynomial Root Distribution Conjectures ] is taking shape.
He picked up his pen and wrote the first line in his notebook.
Let P(x) be a polynomial with integer coefficients, degree n, and roots α₁, α₂,...
He stopped and looked back.
The crack was clearly visible on the [ Scratch Paper ].
He stared at it for a few minutes, then took another route.
Algebraic number height theory.
Use the lower bound estimate of the Weil height function to constrain the location of the roots.
This path is theoretically feasible, but it requires an enormous amount of computation.
He scrolled through more than ten pages and found that one of the inequalities was in the wrong direction.
He tore out that page and started over.
Then he became addicted to it.
On the first day, his grandmother Zhou Lan, knocked on his door in the morning to call him for breakfast.
He said he wasn't hungry while inside.
Zhou Lan assumed her grandson wanted to sleep a little longer since he had just returned, so she didn't think much of it.
He knocked again at noon, saying he had made instant noodles.
Zhou Lan found it a bit strange, but thinking that young people are sometimes like that, she didn't pay any more attention to it.
He still didn't go out the next day.
Zhou Lan placed the food at the door and knocked.
After a while, the door opened a crack, and a hand reached out and took the bowl inside.
Then it closed again.
Zhou Lan stood outside the door and heard the sounds of turning pages and writing coming from inside.
She sighed and left. Cheng Qingshan was smoking in the yard. After listening to his wife's story, he frowned and said to wait a little longer.
On the morning of the third day, Zhou Lan went to knock on the door again.
After knocking for a long time, Cheng Che's voice finally came from inside. "Grandma, I'm fine."
His voice was clear, even carrying a hint of barely suppressed excitement.
But the door was still locked from the inside.
Zhou Lan returned to the courtyard and told Cheng Qingshan to call Jianguo.
Cheng Qingshan stubbed out his cigarette and took out his phone.
Meanwhile, at Cheng Jianguo's home.
Yan Ruanning and her parents sat in the living room.
Xu Zhiqiang is Cheng Che's high school homeroom teacher, Yan Ping is Yan Ruanning's mother.
Their visit today was ostensibly to "visit old colleagues," but in reality, it was at Yan Ruanning's instigation.
She hadn't received a message from Cheng Che for three days.
He didn't reply to my WeChat, and he didn't answer my calls.
At first, she thought he was busy, but when his phone was off for three consecutive days, she started to panic.
She thought of Su Miaoyin, who lived downstairs from him and gave him music lessons every week.
She thought of Pei Jingshu, who skipped class to record a TV show for him in South Korea.
What does she have?
She was his music teacher, and they would occasionally have a meal together.
What does she have that they don't?
As she thought about it, her face turned pale.
Do you think Cheng Che is in a relationship and you should cut ties with her?
Jiang Xue came out of the kitchen carrying fruit and saw Yan Ruanning sitting on the sofa, head down, her hand clutching her phone, her knuckles white.
" Ruanning? What's wrong?"
Yan Ruanning forced a smile, "It's nothing, Auntie. It's just that Cheng Che has been a bit busy lately and hasn't been replying to messages much."
Jiang Xue was taken aback. "He went back to Pond Village to visit his grandparents. Didn't you know?"
Yan Ruanning's eyes widened slightly. "You went back to your hometown?"
"Yes. He left the day before yesterday."
Yan Ruanning's mind went blank.
She left the day before yesterday.
That was after " Walking the Flower Road Together " aired.
He went back to his hometown.
But why wasn't she told?
Why can't I get through on my phone?
As she was thinking, the video intercom by the door rang. Jiang Xue went over to look at it and paused, startled.
"Why are they here too?"
There are four people on the screen: Guo Xin, Su Qingyue, Zhou Mingxuan, and Lin Xiao.
Jiang Xue pressed the button.
The four of them took the elevator up, and as soon as they entered, Guo Xin called out:
"Auntie, I can't get through to Cheng Che on the phone, and he's not replying to my messages. Has something happened?"
Jiang Xue's expression changed.
At this moment, Cheng Jianguo came out of the study, still holding his phone in his hand, and his expression was not good.
"Dad just called," he said. "He said Cheng Che hasn't left his room for three days, the door is locked from the inside, and they have to hand him his food. They're terribly worried."
Jiang Xue stood up abruptly. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Yan Ruanning also stood up. "I'll go too."
Su Qingyue stood to the side, her face pale.
She glanced at Yan Ruanning, then said, "Auntie, I want to go too."
Jiang Xue glanced at her, then at Yan Ruanning, and nodded.
Guo Xin and Zhou Mingxuan exchanged a glance, and Guo Xin spoke up, "Auntie, we won't go with you, there are too many people."
Jiang Xue thought about it and agreed.
Cheng Jianguo drove his old car, taking Jiang Xue, Yan Ruanning, and Su Qingyue towards Pond Village.
The bus was quiet; no one spoke.
Cheng Jianguo gripped the steering wheel, his brow furrowed. Jiang Xue sat in the passenger seat, glancing back at the back seat every now and then.
Yan Ruanning and Su Qingyue sat on either side of the back seat, with an empty seat between them, each looking out the window.
The car bumped along the country road.
The fields were withered and yellow in winter, and the distant mountains were shrouded in a thin mist. When we arrived at Pond Village, we parked the car in front of Cheng Qingshan's house.
Cheng Qingshan and Zhou Lan were standing in the courtyard, their faces full of anxiety.
Seeing Cheng Jianguo's car, Zhou Lan hurried over. "You've finally arrived. He's upstairs, the door is locked from the inside, and he won't open it no matter how much we knock."
Cheng Jianguo didn't say much, quickly walked into the courtyard, and went up to the second floor.
Jiang Xue, Yan Ruanning, and Su Qingyue followed behind.
The four people walked up the stairs, their footsteps echoing loudly in the quiet courtyard.
On the second floor, Cheng Jianguo stood in front of the door, took a deep breath, and raised his hand to knock.
Just then--
"Hahaha, I've succeeded!"
A loud laugh came from inside.
The sound was loud, carrying the ecstatic joy of finally releasing something that had been suppressed for three days.
Cheng Jianguo's hand froze in mid-air.
He turned his head and glanced at Jiang Xue behind him.
Jiang Xue was also looking at him.
Yan Ruanning and Su Qingyue stood behind, stunned.
Then Cheng Jianguo's face slowly darkened. He clenched his fist, took a deep breath, raised his hand, and knocked heavily on the door three times.