Chapter 89 - 67: Fields Medal
’This means I’ll have a lot of opportunities to be alone with her in the future.’
’This is much more intimate than our previous "paid consultation" arrangement.’
’Not bad, not bad at all.’
Chen Lin was in high spirits. He closed WeChat and was about to browse Weibo and some forums to see what fun was happening today when Principal Chang Kai, who was beside him, finished his phone call.
Chang Kai turned his head, a warm smile on his face, and said to Chen Lin, "Chen Lin, I just spoke with Director Kong from the Academic Affairs Office. They will get the necessary application materials ready immediately. As soon as we get to the university, we’ll go straight to his office and get your major transfer sorted out first!"
Hearing this, Chen Lin immediately responded, "Okay. Thank you, Principal."
Professor Gu, who was concentrating on driving, glanced at Chen Lin in the rearview mirror and suddenly asked, "Chen Lin, are you planning to stay at the university for the whole summer break and not go home?"
"Yes, that’s right." Chen Lin nodded. "I have some things to take care of here in Jinmen."
"That’s perfect," Gu Ming said, his tone filled with enthusiasm and admiration. "We can schedule some time to get the exams for the required major courses in the mathematics department out of the way and get your credits fulfilled. Then, I’ll find some time to tutor you privately, teach you how to write your graduation thesis, and get that squared away as soon as possible too."
"No problem. Thank you for your trouble, Professor Gu," Chen Lin agreed without hesitation.
Chang Kai, sitting to the side, nodded in satisfaction and added, "Don’t you worry about establishing the company, either. I’ll start making arrangements as soon as I get back. I’ll have the university’s professional team draw up a collaboration plan to present to President Peng’s side. I’ll contact you the moment we have any initial news. At that point, we’ll need you to get in touch with President Peng."
As he spoke, he had already taken out his phone, opened WeChat, and pulled up his personal QR code.
"Come on, Chen Lin. Let’s add each other so it’s easier to stay in touch."
Chen Lin quickly took out his phone as well and scanned the code to add him. With a soft BEEP, Chang Kai accepted his friend request. Immediately after, Chang Kai sent him a contact card.
[Yannan University - School of Mathematics - Gu Ming]
Chen Lin tapped ’add’ as well.
Seeing that everything was more or less arranged, Chang Kai completely relaxed. He leaned back against his seat, his trademark friendly smile returning to his face.
He looked at Chen Lin with great interest and asked, "By the way, Chen Lin, what did you all talk about in Elder Liang’s office earlier? When I saw Elder Liang come out, his expression was a bit... complex."
"Nothing much," Chen Lin said, telling the truth. "I just explained my personal choice to Elder Liang. Although he was a little disappointed, he said he understood in the end. Then I promised him that I wouldn’t completely give up on scientific research in the future, and that I’d still do some research when I have the energy."
At this point, Chen Lin paused, remembering the solemn promise he had made at the end. He added, "Oh, right, I also promised him I’d try to make a run at the... Fields Medal."
After hearing this, Chang Kai nodded thoughtfully but didn’t have any particular reaction.
But Gu Ming, who was driving, was extremely surprised to hear Chen Lin’s words. He almost instinctively glanced at Chen Lin in the rearview mirror with a look of utter shock and confirmed, "The Fields Medal?!"
"Yeah." Chen Lin was a little baffled by his reaction and scratched his head in embarrassment. "Actually... I don’t even know what that award is. I saw the look in Elder Liang’s eyes at the time, so full of expectation, and I couldn’t bear to disappoint him, so I just agreed."
Hearing this, the corner of Gu Ming’s mouth twitched. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
He was silent for a few seconds, seemingly gathering his thoughts, before he began to explain in a serious tone.
"Chen Lin, let me put it this way. You can think of the Fields Medal as the Nobel Prize of mathematics."
"The award is only given out once every four years, with no more than four recipients each time. Moreover, it has an extremely strict rule—the recipient must be under forty years old."
Gu Ming’s voice was exceptionally clear. "This rule is meant to recognize young mathematicians who have made the most groundbreaking and significant discoveries early in their careers."
He paused, his tone carrying an indescribable, complex emotion. "To this day, not a single mathematician of our country’s nationality... has ever won a Fields Medal."
A brief silence fell inside the car.
Chen Lin was stunned after hearing Gu Ming’s explanation.
Only then did he understand the immense weight of the expectations behind Academician Liang Tianshi’s earnest request.
It was a hope that transcended personal glory or shame, one that carried the academic dignity of the entire country and its people!
Gu Ming saw Chen Lin’s silence in the rearview mirror and, thinking he was intimidated by the difficulty and significance of the award, quickly tried to console him. "Of course, you don’t have to feel too much pressure. That goal is indeed very far off. But..."
His tone shifted, becoming firm and encouraging. "With your talent, you truly have a chance to try for it! This summer, we’ll start with your graduation thesis. Treat it as your first step toward familiarizing yourself with research and moving toward that goal!"
Chen Lin slowly nodded but said nothing.
It wasn’t that he was intimidated by the so-called difficulty.
With the blessing of his "Little Mathematician" title, any mathematical problem was merely a matter of time for him.
He was simply analyzing the situation calmly.
’Gu Ming’s words had made it clear—to win the Fields Medal, one must produce a sufficiently significant result at a young age.’
’I definitely meet the age requirement.’
’The only thing I’m missing now is a sufficiently significant result.’
Chen Lin’s mind began to whir.
’Looks like once I get back to Jinmen and settle in, I’ll need to find some time to sit down, focus, and search online. I need to figure out a research direction and produce a groundbreaking result.’
...
...
After a drive of just under two hours, Professor Gu Ming’s electric car pulled smoothly through the gates of Yannan University.
During the summer break, the campus had shed its usual hustle and vitality, appearing exceptionally tranquil.
Pedestrians were scarce on the main road, with only the occasional figure hurrying by with a backpack—likely undergraduates staying behind to study for graduate school entrance exams or graduate students conducting research.
The car came to a steady stop in front of the administration building, and the three of them got out.
Chen Lin pulled his suitcase from the trunk, its wheels making a soft RUMBLING sound on the smooth stone path.
The trio headed straight for the Academic Affairs Office.
In the Academic Affairs Office, the aforementioned Director Kong was already waiting, sitting formally with tea brewed and all the materials prepared. When he saw Chang Kai push the door open, he immediately shot up from his chair, his face wreathed in a respectful smile.
"Principal, you’re back!"
Chang Kai waved his hand, stepping aside to reveal Chen Lin behind him, and got straight to the point. "Old Kong, this is Chen Lin. Please process his major transfer quickly."
"Yes, yes, of course!" Director Kong agreed readily. As his gaze fell on Chen Lin and the suitcase by his side, a flicker of imperceptible curiosity flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by a professional smile.
The subsequent process was so fast it left Chen Lin a bit dumbfounded.
All one could say was that with the principal personally overseeing things, Director Kong handling it himself, and two young teachers assisting on the side, the trio worked together with seamless efficiency.
"Chen Lin, come, sign this major transfer application form right here."
"Take a look at this personal information confirmation form. If there are no issues, please sign it as well."
"And this one..."
"Alright, the paperwork is complete. Ji, go ahead and process it in the system."
The young teacher named Ji’s fingers flew across the keyboard with a CLACK-CLACK-CLACK. He unleashed a flurry of actions with blistering speed.
In less than ten minutes, he looked up and nodded at Director Kong.
Director Kong immediately turned to Chen Lin, his face beaming. "Chen Lin, it’s all done. You can log into the university’s internal system now to confirm your personal information."
Chen Lin took out his phone and skillfully logged into the university’s academic affairs system. He opened his personal information page and looked closely. Just as expected, his original major, [School of Liberal Arts - Chinese Language and Literature], had now strikingly changed to—
[School of Mathematical Sciences - Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Major - Applied Mathematics Track]