Chapter Ninety-Six: Gone Mad?

Alvin let out a deep sigh. "I'll report this upwards and let the big shots decide. This is beyond our capacity to judge!" He couldn't be the only one left with a headache. As preliminary workers, they were merely the junior ranks of the mathematical community, responsible for booking venues, setting up, contacting presenters, chasing manuscripts, checking formats, and other such trivial tasks. As for reviewing papers, that was the domain of the top-ranking members of the Mathematical Committee.

He could already imagine that those big names would be just as shocked and troubled as he was.

Originally, he had only wanted Wu Tong to organize her results on the twin prime conjecture and send it as a report. That would have been an excellent submission in itself. Who could have anticipated that a genius's mind worked so differently from theirs, and that she would toss them another bombshell—a groundbreaking, heavyweight discovery?

Whether this result was truly proven or merely the prideful misstep of a young prodigy, it was now up to those esteemed experts to verify it, even if it meant overtime. The conference was less than twenty days away, and the paper stretched seventy or eighty pages. The committee was in for a headache.

As for the outcome, if the proof held, it would shock the world and witness the birth of a miracle. If refuted, the young genius would face ridicule from the global community, losing the chance and honor to ascend the stage at the International Mathematicians’ Congress.

He sincerely hoped the proof would succeed—not only for the glory of having managed the process, but also to avoid the disaster of finding another presenter at short notice.

Professor John Powers, chief of the organizing committee for this year's International Mathematicians’ Congress, had just finished his breakfast, reflecting on how age had reduced his sleep compared to his younger years.

He glanced out the floor-to-ceiling windows, sunlight streaming in, golden and dazzling. Even at this early hour, one could tell the day would be bright and beautiful—a rare delight in the foggy city, which lifted his spirits.

When his email notification chimed, he was already pondering what to have for lunch. The food scene here in Borough was hardly renowned, and if not for the high quality of the hotel, he would worry about his meals.

"Emails this early? Those youngsters never learn to be steady," John Powers muttered, opening his inbox to see what urgent matter was disturbing his rest so soon.

Hadn’t the committee’s work essentially concluded? Otherwise, he wouldn’t be enjoying such leisure. Couldn’t they let an old man catch his breath? Organizing the committee was truly a thankless task; he swore never to take it on again.

Last time, he had nearly been driven mad by the willful Perelman—the Millennium Problem solver of the Poincaré Conjecture—who ultimately refused to attend the Congress or accept the Fields Medal, leaving the last Congress somewhat dimmed, the Fields Medal’s luster dulled.

But as he opened the email, reading the title and abstract, his heart skipped a beat and his teeth ached. Yet another turbulent Congress—if he ever took on such cursed work again, let him become a mosquito in the fog, soaking endlessly in its rain.

Why must he always be disrespected as an elder? He now declared his greatest dislike was unpredictability.

He knew the presenter had been changed, replaced at the last minute by the recently celebrated Eastern prodigy. While he couldn’t deny his amazement at her youth, her achievements were outstanding: from the Zhou Conjecture to the twin prime conjecture, she had shone spectacularly in this year’s international mathematical community—and she was so young!

Twice, she had received praise and endorsement from England’s Fields Medal laureate, Andrew Wiles. It was for this reason he confirmed her as the substitute presenter.

"A new group proof method and a proof of the Polignac Conjecture? Using the principle of infinitely extended topology in sieve methods, leveraging the infinitude in group theory... creating an infinite group proof method and finally proving the Polignac Conjecture? My Jesus, do not scare your faithful lamb—has the world gone mad?" Powers patted his chest, traced a cross, and prayed, nearly suffering cardiac arrest from shock!

Anyone versed in mathematics knew the renown of the Polignac Conjecture, and now this Eastern girl claimed she had proved it with a new approach? Wait... wasn’t it just half a month ago that she proved the twin prime conjecture? Two conjectures dispatched in a month?

Was he losing his mind, his old eyes deceiving him, or had the world gone mad?

Such a monumental result could not be presented to the public without thorough, rigorous verification, especially at the International Mathematicians’ Congress. Less than twenty days remained until the opening!

What kind of nightmare was this? Let him wake at once.

He couldn’t suffer alone—those number theorists, Andrew, Albert, Terence Tao, Qiu... and the slackers who pushed this work onto his elderly shoulders, Deligne, Ferman... and Witten—none of them would rest easy. They would all have to compute and verify!

That was settled: everyone would be busy together; he would not bear the burden alone! There’s a saying from China: good fortune is shared by all, calamity is shouldered together—well said!

No matter what, if the proof held, the advance in mathematics would bring joy. After all, the Congress was meant to discuss and share new progress.

So, Powers sent messages one by one. Meanwhile, as Wu Tong finished her tasks and enjoyed a moment of leisure, she had no idea that her butterfly wings had set the entire elite mathematical circle abuzz with activity and excitement.

At Princeton, Andrew Wiles was still listening to elegant music, quietly enjoying the beauty of night.

Few appreciated the charm of night. The sudden ring of the phone made him frown as he answered, "My dear John, you know it's midnight here in the States, my favorite time."

So, you’d better have something urgent.

"The prodigy you praised—the Eastern genius!"

"Oh, you mean Wu. Yes, a fascinating child. Her twin prime conjecture work was brilliant. If it weren’t so late, I’d gladly recommend her for a full hour’s report!"

"Heh... perhaps you won’t need to recommend. Check your inbox—I just sent you a paper. Your protégé claims she has now proven the Polignac Conjecture! Review it, Andrew; I’ll notify the others!" Powers hung up and moved to the next call, time zone be damned. His working hours set the schedule.

"Polignac Conjecture?" Andrew was so startled he nearly crushed his wine glass. "This child truly brings miraculous surprises!"

If the proof was genuine, a full-hour report wouldn’t need his recommendation; the committee would make way for such a monumental achievement of its own accord.

(End of chapter)