Chapter 16

A group of young people in their twenties had gathered there.

They all came from the Sam Empire's top universities.

They were mathematical geniuses, the elite among elites.

They were the future pillars of the Sam Empire's academic community.

At the lectern, an old man in a suit closed the livestream of Jiang Ye.

In its place, he displayed Jiang Ye's unfinished proof of the Beal Conjecture.

The old man in the suit said, "That man has gone mad, but his proof of the first half of the Beal Conjecture is worth studying and learning from."

"As I see it, there's nothing wrong with his approach. Study it, and if you can use it to complete the second half, I think that million dollars will be enough for you to live it up for a while."

The professor's words drew a ripple of laughter from the classroom.

A million dollars meant little to these gifted students.

But many of them coveted the prestige of solving the Beal Conjecture.

Now, unlike before, someone had pulled the fruit of victory that was the Beal Conjecture down to a height everyone could reach.

Now it was a question of who could get to it first!

By comparison, only young scholars cared about a half-picked fruit of victory like the Beal Conjecture.

After seeing Jiang Ye's situation, the leading mathematicians around the world felt regret, but none continued the calculations.

With their abilities, plucking the fruit of victory that was the Beal Conjecture would be no difficult task.

But given the honors they had already earned, a fruit of victory like this would not add to their glory. Instead, it would make them a laughingstock among their peers.

At that moment, young scholars around the world were taking action.

This was especially true after they studied the mathematical tools and methods of calculation Jiang Ye had used to prove the first half of the Beal Conjecture.

Many felt heartfelt admiration.

Some of the methods and applications of mathematical tools were things they had never heard of or seen before.

It was unbelievable.

If Jiang Ye had not gone mad, he might really have solved it, given enough time.

The young scholars' actions in academic circles also spread to the internet and reached the general public.

On major domestic online platforms, public opinion began to simmer.

An independent media account wrote, "According to a prominent scholar in academic circles, scholars at the world's top universities are currently studying Jiang Ye's proof of the first half of the Beal Conjecture, attempting to work out the rest and claim the million-dollar prize."

"Although I'm sorry this happened to Jiang Ye, I don't think we can let foreigners take the fruit of victory that is the Beal Conjecture just like that."

"Where are our geniuses? Where are our young scholars? We should reclaim the honor that belongs to us on his behalf."

"Everyone, don't worry too much. According to an explanation from an insider, even solving the second half of a third-tier mathematical problem like the Beal Conjecture would take at least one or two years."

"Holy shit, one or two years? That long?"

"But Jiang Ye wrote out the first half in less than two hours!"

"That's why his talent is unmatched. It's just such a pity. Who could have thought Jiang Ye would lose his mind so quickly?"

"Just when one window opened, another one closed!"

[The author caught a cold and went for an IV drip today, so the update is a little late. Sorry.]

Chapter 16: That Man Is Worth Doing This For (Kneeling and Begging for All Kinds of Support)

Inside a certain special department.

Zhang Puze held a report in his hands, reading it intently.

The report contained the conclusions their own team of psychological experts had reached about Jiang Ye.

After a long while, Zhang Puze put down the report with a deep frown and lit another cigarette.

The report's conclusion was much the same as what Chen Danni had said in the international livestream.

The only difference was that the report ended with an additional measure to save him.

It was to use an enormous commotion to startle Jiang Ye out of his current state.

On either side of him, his colleagues attending the meeting had also just finished reading the reports in their hands.

One of them said, "Minister, perhaps we should speak with the production team and arrange for another plane to crash near Jiang Ye."

After listening to the suggestion, Zhang Puze nodded slightly. It was a good idea.

But without even thinking about it, he knew they would most likely have to pay the price themselves.

For example, the cost of a plane, or perhaps other conditions.

"Minister, let's ask the show's directors first and see what they say."

"The team of psychological experts also said that the sooner we take measures to save him, the better. The sooner we startle him awake, the better."

Zhang Puze stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. "Bring me the landline."

After a round of dialing, it wasn't long before the voice of an assistant director assigned to liaise with them came over the line.

"Minister Zhang, what can I do for you?"

After Zhang Puze explained what he wanted.

There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment. Then the assistant director said, "We directors also think that if he really has gone mad, it will have a considerable impact on the rest of the show, so we agree to your proposed measure."

"However..."

"Go on. What are your conditions?"

A fierce glint flashed in Zhang Puze's eyes.

By considerable impact, he meant nothing more than Jiang Ye truly going mad or dying in a short time.

Then the show's true objective could not be achieved.

Only while Jiang Ye was alive could they use his performance to undermine our national and cultural confidence.