Chapter 184 - 137: Of Course I’m Unreasonable
Chen Lin glanced at the Official Account that published this long article. Its name was "Secret Garden."
He casually scrolled down and found that the dozens of articles previously published by this account were, without exception, all on female-centric topics like relationships, makeup, and fashion. They had absolutely nothing to do with academia or technology.
Chen Lin scoffed internally. ’I see what this is about.’ He then calmed himself and began to carefully read the article from beginning to end.
[I. A Meteoric Rise: Myth or Reality?
Over the past 48 hours, the name "Chen Lin" has swept across the Chinese internet with the force of a nuclear explosion.
From an undergraduate at Yannan University to an author in the top journal JAMS, from a liberal arts student to a mathematical genius, from a campus entrepreneur to a tech upstart courted by Jask with a million-US Dollar offer—this young man’s resume shines with a dazzling brilliance, perfectly fitting the public’s dual fantasies of the underdog’s triumph and the young prodigy.
Mainstream media has spared no praise, portraying him as a brilliant product of the Huaxia educational system. On social media, labels like "Chen Shen," "Campus Heartthrob," and "Peerless National Treasure" are everywhere.
A grand god-making movement has taken shape.
Yet, as applause and flowers flood toward this young "deity," the most instinctive question for any scientific mind has been drowned out: What, exactly, is the foundation supporting this mythical ascent?
Tracing Chen Lin’s academic trajectory, a key logical discontinuity becomes clear: the "awakening" and "explosion" of his mathematical ability show an inexplicable and sudden mutation.
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From "part-time job enthusiast" to "solver of a world-class problem," the time span was less than three months.
Such a nearly vertical growth curve is extremely rare within the framework of rigorous scientific understanding.
The natural sciences, especially a field like mathematics that relies on deep accumulation of knowledge and rigorous logical deduction, typically see ability grow according to gradual, traceable patterns.
Chen Lin’s trajectory, however, is like a supernova appearing out of thin air—immensely bright, yet lacking a clear evolutionary path leading up to it.
A mathematics professor from a top domestic university, who wished to remain anonymous, privately stated: "A genius can surpass norms, but they cannot defy the basic laws of cognition.
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We would much rather see the groundwork of his early research, or an explanation of how his unique thought process developed, rather than just a shocking result."
II. The Price of Questioning: When a Voice is Drowned in Applause
In the process of Chen Lin’s mythic rise, a related name has been, intentionally or not, forgotten—or worse, nailed to the villain’s pillar of shame: Yang Han of Jiangcheng University.
Let’s turn back the clock to the scene of the modeling competition.
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Now, as we re-examine this incident and strip away the emotional clamor, what was at the core of Yang Han’s actions?
She was exercising the most fundamental and precious right in an academic community—the right to question.
Questioning is the ladder to scientific progress.
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However, the outcome was lamentable.
A professional question, one that was well within academic norms, ultimately devolved into a devastating personal attack against the questioner.
Not only did Yang Han endure a level of online harassment far exceeding what her actions deserved, but her academic reputation and personal life were also severely affected.
What’s more worthy of deep consideration is that, as Chen Lin’s halo shines ever brighter, the "trial" of the questioner and the logic behind it have been selectively forgotten by the majority.
III. Unbalanced Scales: The Silent Plight of Systemic Suppression
Chen Lin’s legend and Yang Han’s ordeal, while seeming like isolated incidents, actually point to a deeper and more unsettling structural problem: in the current academic and public opinion environments, the space for female voices to exist is being systematically squeezed.
The Gender Bias in the "Genius" Narrative: Throughout history and in today’s public discourse, the "genius" crown seems to be naturally more inclined toward men.
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When Chen Lin rose at rocket speed, the public and media embraced this narrative with almost no hesitation, automatically placing him in the center of the spotlight.
Meanwhile, female figures who have demonstrated equally outstanding abilities in mathematics (such as Shen Yan, the academic core of her modeling team) are often relegated to being mere ornaments beside the "genius," their professional contributions downplayed in the grand narrative.
The Gendered Difference in the Right to Question: When a man raises a professional question, he is often seen as "having his own opinions" or "daring to challenge authority." But when a woman raises a question of the same nature and intensity, she is more likely to be interpreted as "emotional," "combative," or "jealous."
Yang Han’s experience is a classic example.
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The Double Standard of Public Judgment: In the online frenzy surrounding the Chen Lin incident, the cyberbullying directed at Yang Han was tacitly permitted, even encouraged.
Yet when the roles in similar incidents are reversed (for example, when a man has caused controversy by improperly accusing a woman), the intensity and duration of the public backlash are often significantly different.
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It allows the voices of women like Yang Han to be easily drowned out, the contributions of women like Shen Yan to be habitually overlooked, and the entire academic ecosystem to fall out of balance, having lost the wisdom of half its minds.
Conclusion: Between Myth and Truth
Chen Lin’s academic achievements, of course, deserve to be taken seriously and studied in depth.
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What we need to reflect on more is the systemic suppression of female academic voices that the Yang Han incident has exposed.
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Let Yang Han’s experience be the last of its kind. Let the contributions of women like Shen Yan receive recognition commensurate with their value. Let the academic arena truly become a stage for the equal exchange of intellect, not a place for the one-dimensional worship of a single narrative.
Between myth and truth, between applause and reflection, we choose the latter. Because only then can the light truly illuminate the path forward, rather than merely searing the eyes of those who seek it.]
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"Hooo—"
Chen Lin let out a long breath and tossed his phone aside.
He leaned against the headboard, his face expressionless, but he couldn’t help but start ranting in his head.
’To be fair, setting aside its agenda, the article is actually quite well-written.’
’The logic is clear, the arguments build on each other, it cites sources, and it even knew to quote an "anonymous mathematics professor from a top university" to add authority to its views.’
’That last part especially, forcibly elevating a personal grudge to the grand level of "systemic suppression in the academic environment," was a stroke of genius.’
’This author really has some skills.’
The article’s core argument was basically a three-pronged attack.
First, it questioned the origins of his mathematical ability, claiming they were illogical.
Chen Lin couldn’t even be bothered to refute this point.
’Are you kidding me? I have a system. Of course I’m illogical.’
Second, it tried to whitewash what Yang Han did, glorifying her baseless accusations back then as "exercising the most precious right to question in an academic community."
Chen Lin found this laughable.
’Questioning?’
𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
’If it were purely an academic question, then why, after I proved my mathematical ability on the spot, did Yang Han not even offer a simple "I was wrong"? Instead, she just looked resentful and bitter.’
’You call that questioning?’
’That’s called throwing a tantrum out of sheer rage and embarrassment.’
As for the third point, which was also the most disgusting one, it was how the article forcibly dragged the issue into a conflict between the sexes.
’All this talk about "the gender bias in the ’genius’ narrative," and how "Shen Yan’s contributions were downplayed."’
Chen Lin sneered internally.
’At the modeling competition, Shen Yan, as the team captain and core member, was the first one to go on stage and present the paper. Her entire presentation was logical and clear, her stage presence was solid, and she received a round of applause from the entire audience.’
’I, on the other hand, had no intention of going on stage at all. If it hadn’t been for Yang Han jumping out to cause trouble, I wouldn’t have.’
’And that’s what they call her contributions being downplayed?’
’That’s just a shameless frame-up, twisting the facts completely.’