Chapter 203 - 151: Geniuses Can Ignore Common Sense
Chen Lin listened to the two titans trade compliments, just smiling and shaking his head. "Professor Tang did ask me before if I was willing to stay on the project team to help with any future mathematical problems that might arise.
"But I declined. Right now, I’d rather focus on getting my company’s business in order."
Just then, Academician Liang Tianshi, who had been listening quietly to the conversation, suddenly spoke up in surprise. "Chen, I originally thought you’d been pouring all your energy into your research on Differential Geometry recently.
"I never expected you’d find the time to solve that mathematical challenge in solid-state battery research using methods from non-convex and non-smooth functional analysis."
As soon as Academician Liang spoke, Feng Yunhai and Gongtan also showed looks of curiosity.
It stood to reason that a person’s energy was finite. The branches of modern mathematics were so vast and profound that to delve deeply into a single field and achieve world-class results already marked one as a genius among geniuses.
For someone of Chen Lin’s age to display such an extraordinarily high level of skill in two largely unrelated cutting-edge fields simultaneously was, in their eyes, truly mind-boggling.
Chen Lin scratched his head and explained vaguely, "Actually, my main research is still in Differential Geometry. The solid-state battery problem... that was purely a flash of inspiration. I just happened to think of a different approach. It was just good luck."
’He couldn’t just come out and say he had a cheat, could he?’
After hearing his explanation, the three titans couldn’t help but look at one another, their faces a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
A flash of inspiration? Good luck?
All they could conclude was that a true genius could indeed defy common sense.
A gratified smile appeared on Academician Liang Tianshi’s face. "Back at Huaqing University, you promised me you would balance pure academic research with running your company in your spare time.
"At the time, I thought you were just a young man casually humoring an old fellow like me. I never imagined you’d not only do it but do it so well."
He looked at Chen Lin and asked, "The presentation you’ve prepared for this mathematics conference—the topic is related to that paper of yours, I assume?"
"Yes," Chen Lin nodded.
"That’s good." Director Feng Yunhai chimed in, smiling at Chen Lin. "Academician Liang specifically instructed me to schedule your presentation in the main auditorium. You have to give it your all this time. You can’t let down the Academician after all his efforts."
’Just as I thought.’ Chen Lin thought to himself. The arrangement was exactly what he had guessed.
This World Mathematics Conference would start tomorrow, the 30th, and end on the 31st, lasting for two days.
Each day’s schedule was divided into morning and afternoon sessions, with each session lasting three hours: 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
Within each three-hour session, four presentations were scheduled, each lasting forty-five minutes.
The conference had a total of three venues: a main auditorium and a breakout hall at Yanbei University, and another breakout hall at the neighboring Huaqing University.
By that calculation, there would be twenty-four presentations each day, for a grand total of forty-eight over the two days.
This arrangement was mainly because there were too many international and domestic Guests invited to this conference, and the schedule was tight.
Even Feng Yunhai himself admitted that since it was their first time hosting such a large-scale international academic event, their lack of experience had resulted in a schedule that was a bit too packed and not entirely reasonable.
Chen Lin’s presentation was scheduled for the first slot on the afternoon of the second day, the 31st, in the most prestigious venue: the main auditorium.
This was, one might say, an incredibly prestigious placement.
Even though this arrangement had only been finalized after the publication of his JAMS paper, with his credentials as a mere undergraduate, he would normally never have been placed in such a prominent, central spot.
When Chen Lin received the schedule by email two weeks ago, he had guessed that Academician Liang Tianshi must have pulled some strings for him behind the scenes.
Thinking of this, he immediately stood up and said solemnly to Academician Liang, "Thank you, Academician Liang, for your support and high regard."
Academician Liang smiled and waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit. "Don’t be so quick to thank me. I must remind you, there will be quite a few high-level mathematicians sitting in that audience. You need to be mentally prepared. Don’t get nervous and underperform."
The group chatted casually for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, Academician Liang suddenly remembered something else and said to Chen Lin, "Oh, right, there’s one more thing. Professor Qiu Chengtong wants to meet you today as well. He’s over at Huaqing University right now. I’ll send you the address; you should head over there now."
As he spoke, Academician Liang sent an address to Chen Lin’s WeChat.
Seeing this, Chen Lin and Shen Yan immediately stood up and bid farewell to the three esteemed academics.
After leaving Building 79 and walking along the tree-lined path of Yanbei University, the late autumn breeze carried a hint of chill.
Going out the east gate of Yanbei University to the west gate of Huaqing University was really just a matter of crossing the street.
Shen Yan thought for a moment and said, "I won’t go with you. I’ll head back to the hotel first. When you’re done, we can have dinner together."
Chen Lin nodded. After watching Shen Yan leave, he followed the address Academician Liang had given him and walked toward Huaqing University.
He had done some research online and knew that the address Academician Liang had given him—Jing Zhai at Huaqing University—was precisely the location of the Qiu Chengtong Mathematical Sciences Center.
This mathematical research center, named after the greatest living Chinese mathematician, Professor Qiu Chengtong, was now a highly prestigious institution for mathematical research, renowned throughout Asia and even the world.
Professor Qiu Chengtong himself not only served as the director of this center but was also the dean of Huaqing University’s Seeking Truth Academy, dedicated to cultivating the next generation of top mathematical talent for the nation.
Chen Lin stood before the simple, elegant gatehouse of Jing Zhai, looking up at the plaque personally inscribed by Mr. Ji Xianlin. Thinking of Professor Qiu Chengtong’s academic achievements and his immense contributions to the development of mathematics in Huaxia, even though Chen Lin wasn’t one to chase fame and fortune, he couldn’t help but feel an indescribable surge of ambition.
’A great man should be just like him!’
Following the address from Academician Liang, Chen Lin quickly found the office building of the Mathematical Sciences Center.
The building was quiet. Chen Lin located the largest and best-situated office.
The office door was ajar, not shut completely.
Through the crack in the door, Chen Lin saw an elderly man sitting behind a large desk. He was wearing a pair of reading glasses, his eyes slightly narrowed as he focused on reviewing a document in his hands.
The man had graying hair, and though he was just sitting there quietly, he naturally exuded an aura of authority.
Chen Lin recognized him. This was the man widely acknowledged as a titan in the Chinese and even the global mathematics community—Qiu Chengtong.
He stood at the door, straightened his collar, raised his hand, and knocked lightly on the heavy, solid wood door.
"KNOCK KNOCK."
The crisp sound of knocking was especially clear in the quiet hallway.
Professor Qiu Chengtong slowly looked up. The eyes behind his lenses were not large, but his gaze was sharp and full of spirit.
He adjusted his glasses and looked toward the door, his eyes holding a questioning look.
"Hello, Professor Qiu," Chen Lin said respectfully from the doorway, bowing slightly. "I’m Chen Lin."
"Chen Lin?"
Qiu Chengtong was startled for a moment, then, as if remembering something, his eyes instantly lit up. The slightly stern expression on his face vanished, replaced by a genuinely enthusiastic smile.
"Ah, so you’re Chen Lin! Come in, come in!"
As he spoke, he quickly walked around from behind his desk, came to the door himself, and, without another word, took Chen Lin by the arm and welcomed him into the office.
This overly enthusiastic welcome left Chen Lin feeling both honored and a little overwhelmed.
If Professor Qiu Chengtong’s doctoral students were to see his amiable and approachable demeanor at this moment, their jaws would probably drop to the floor in astonishment.
’Is this really the same Professor Qiu Chengtong who, according to legend, was academically arrogant and whose demands on his students were so strict as to be almost cruel?’