Super God-Level Top Student

Xilin University of Technology, president's office.

"President Chen, we've received a reply from Apple Inc. They've agreed to our proposal and will send someone to sign the contract this week. After the donation contract is drafted, the twenty million in scholarships will be donated in one lump sum."

"Oh, no additional demands?"

"None, it's the same as before."

"That's good. Once you confirm their arrival, arrange a reception. And remember, after the funds are in place, inform Xu Dajiang. Don't arrange for Qiao Ze to meet with them until the money is secured."

"Got it. But is that necessary? As long as we sign the donation contract, even if their collaboration doesn't work out, a company as big as Apple wouldn't renege over twenty million, right?"

"The issue isn't whether they can collaborate, it's about the kid's temperament. He may not talk much, but heaven knows what he might say once he opens his mouth. Just do as I said."

"Yes, President."

... Explore hidden tales at empire

Capital, Yanbei University.

On a bustling autumn afternoon after the start of the school year, the banks of Weiming Lake were lively.

Especially in front of a stele said to be engraved by an emperor, many people were taking photos and leaving their mark.

The Boya Tower, facing Weiming Lake, was equally one of everyone's favorite scenes.

At the foot of Boya Tower, the Yanbei International Mathematics Research Institute seemed like a sanctuary amid the hustle and bustle.

If Yanbei University has four major madhouses, the Yanbei Mathematics Institute would be the foremost; and within this campus, the Mathematical Research Institute was a place only the topmost lunatics of the madhouse could tread.

The "lesser madmen" who hadn't yet fully entered the fold were only qualified to attend one or two classes a week or occasionally come to listen to lectures.

Zhang Hongcai was, as usual, busily solving problems in his office.

Different mathematicians, when starting on a topic or feeling that their research had hit a wall, chose different methods to open up new ideas.

Some would study previous papers, others liked to send out emails to discuss with peers, and there were those who would do something entirely different to change their mindset; Zhang Hongcai preferred to dive into problem-solving.

Yes, those kinds of math problems that make ordinary people itch just by looking at the questions and figures, although the actual proofs are wickedly interesting.

In short, it's an incredibly twisted hobby.

At the moment, the draft paper in front of Zhang Hongcai was filled with problem-solving ideas, and just as he flipped it over to continue, his cell phone began to buzz.

Zhang Hongcai glanced sideways at the phone, then casually answered the call and switched to speaker mode; the next moment, Qian Yuhai's excited voice came through: "Old Zhang, I've seen news about that kid again."

Lately, whenever "that kid" was mentioned in the entire institute, it definitely referred to Qiao Ze.

Everyone had grown accustomed to it.

But to be honest, Zhang Hongcai didn't really want to hear the words "that kid" lately; after all, the thought was quite disheartening.

He'd made a special trip to Xilin, and not only did he fail to recruit the kid, but he was also critiqued by him for poor language skills.

That alone, he could endure.

But in less than two months, that kid made a big splash in the international mathematics community again.

The side effect was that the whole institute now knew about his unsuccessful personal recruitment effort.

Especially after Qiao Ze's two papers were published in "Science."

Zhang Hongcai internally had a multitude of complaints.

Regional schools are just so shortsighted, look what they've put the kid through.

That kid will surely regret it in the future.

So now hearing Qian Yuhai bring up Qiao Ze again, Zhang Hongcai simply responded indifferently, "Oh, has he published another flimsy paper?"

"Haha, I don't even know how to comment on this anymore. I bet you'll jump when you hear it," Qian continued excitedly.

Zhang Hongcai couldn't help but roll his eyes, putting down his pen and picking up the phone: "Old Qian, can you be more dramatic? Unless he's published another paper, at this time seeing his name probably means he's signed up for some college math competition, right? What kind of earth-shattering news could possibly make me jump after hearing it?"

"College math competition? Haha, Old Zhang, who are you underestimating? I'm telling you, you might actually jump after I tell you this. Like, although his papers aren't published yet, apparently five of them are about to hit top journals. And one of them will be published in Princeton's 'Mathematics Annual' next month."

"What are you talking about? What kind of international joke is this?" Zhang Hongcai couldn't help but minimize the call to check the date.

Yep, it's September 4th, 20XX, definitely not April Fool's, and he hadn't traveled many years into the future.

The last time Qiao Ze had anything to do with Princeton's "Mathematics Annual," it was when he pointed out an error in one of the journal's papers. Now his paper is going to be in "Mathematics Annual"?

"Who's joking with you? I'm dead serious!"

"Come on, if it's not officially published yet, how do you even know about it? Is the journal really making advance announcements for his papers?" Zhang Hongcai was indeed feeling a bit like roaring.

"Hey, of course, it's that kid himself who said it. And besides, don't say that I believe everything he says. Someone has already written to Princeton's editorial department to ask about it. We thought they would reply tomorrow, but early this morning, not long after, they emailed back.

The editor-in-chief of 'Mathematics Annual' personally confirmed that the editing and typesetting for the kid's latest paper are complete, setting it as the headline article for the October issue."