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nTranslator: Legge Editor: Legge

nThe next day.

nEarly in the morning.

nZhang Ye stretched and got up from bed.

nThis was officially his first day at the research institute. As he had gone to bed soon after arriving yesterday, he woke up very early today after getting a good night’s rest. Out of habit, he turned to the window and opened it. Then he sang out the window a familiar tune: “Tears Behind Prison Bars.”

nIn the opposite building, Chi Xue sat up from under the covers.

nFellow Zhou, who was living in the same dormitory block, was also woken up in surprise.

nMany researchers, professors, and doctors were similarly awoken by this singing voice at 5:40 AM.

nIron gates?

nIron bars?

nIron manacles?

nWhere the heck are there any iron manacles at this place!

n“Who’s that causing a commotion so early in the morning?”

n“It must be Professor Zhang.”

n“Uh, can someone go tell him to tone down? Does he know what time it is?”

n“Why don’t you go?”

n“I’m not gonna go.”

n“So you know too? The entire research institute and Chinese Academy of Sciences’ only hope of solving that algorithm lies with Professor Zhang. Surely you can’t stop him from singing, right?”

n“Can’t we get Professor Zhang to change to a different song?”

n“Hai, hearing this makes me feel like I’m living in a prison too.”

n“Professor Zhang is treating us like his prison mates.”

nA lot of people could no longer go back to sleep, so they might as well get out of bed.

nIn the cafeteria.

nPeople were gradually arriving for breakfast.

nFellow Chi was also here. “Where’s Professor Zhang?”

nChi Xue was also looking for him. “I didn’t see him. Didn’t he already wake up early in the morning?”

nAt this moment, Zhou Xiaohe jogged in. He said to the cafeteria worker, “A set of breakfast, to go.”

n“Little Zhou,” Fellow Chi called out to him, “where is he?”

nZhou Xiaohe turned around and said, “Professor Zhang has already started working. He’s over at the lab, so I came over to pack his breakfast.”

nChi Xue said in surprise, “He has started already? This early?”

nFellow Chi said, “OK, OK, let’s go and take a look!”

n“Dad,” Chi Xue said helplessly, “Finish your breakfast first.”

nFellow Chi waved her off. “I’m not eating any more.”

nThe group made their way to the lab at once. The moment they entered it, they saw the situation in the lab. It wasn’t big, but it was segregated into an inner and outer room. This was the place that the research institute had specially arranged for Zhang Ye to work in. Inside bookshelves, a blackboard, rulers, a writing desk, pen and paper, and everything else with the exception of a computer. There weren’t even any calculators as all electronic items had been carried away from here. Zhang Ye was busy working at the moment and did not even turn around . He also did not notice that this group of people was behind him. He was very focused on writing out a formula on the blackboard, occasionally doing some calculations on a piece of paper.

nFive pages.

nTen pages.

nTwenty pages.

nIn just one morning, Zhang Ye’s writing had filled up twenty pieces of papers.

n“Fellow Chi—” a researcher began to say.

nFellow Chi put a hand up and cut him off, signaling for him to keep quiet.

nNo one dared make a sound. They stood there quietly watching Zhang Ye, looking at those formulae and drawings that didn’t make any sense to them. They realized that today, Zhang Ye was totally different from when he had just arrived yesterday. This person he was right now really felt like a world-class mathematician working.

nSoon after, everyone quietly exited the room.

nA female researcher said, “Is Professor Zhang really not allowed to use a computer?”

nAnother young researcher said, “Yeah, it’s too tiring to calculate mentally and on paper like this. It increases the time required as well as raises the difficulty of solving the problem.”

nZhou Xiaohe quickly said, “That’s not allowed!”

nFellow Chi said, “If Professor Zhang needs any assistance, he can pick any of our people at the research institute. However, he definitely isn’t allowed to come into contact with any forms of electronic devices. This was the only requirement that the higher-ups mandated on our Chinese Academy of Sciences.”

nEveryone gave bitter smiles.

nThat’s right.

nThere was actually nothing scary about hackers.

nAnd neither were mathematicians scary.

nBut the world’s best hacker who was also a world-class mathematician, that was way too scary. This was because he could do many things that no one could ever achieve in their lifetimes.

nFor example, the CIH virus!

nFor example, the Panda Burning Incense virus!

nThey had both left the entire world shivering in fright!

nSo who would still dare let Zhang Ye get near a computer? To let the world’s most dangerous hacker in a hundred years touch a computer?

nTime slowly passed.

nProblems started surfacing.

n…

nNoon.

nZhang Ye’s shouting suddenly rang out from the lab.

n“It’s too difficult!”

nA lot of people were waiting outside the room. If Zhang Ye couldn’t finish the algorithm, they wouldn’t be able to continue their work. So this shout alarmed Fellow Zhou and the others who were waiting outside. Everyone came running into the room.

nFellow Chi said anxiously, “So how is it?”

nFellow Zhou said worriedly, “What problems did you encounter?”

nZhang Ye sulked, “There’s a big problem.”

n“Which part are you stuck at?” Chi Xue asked in a hurry.

nZhang Ye said, “Everything’s stuck. Forget it, you all wouldn’t understand anyway. I’ll just continue with my calculations.”

nEveryone’s hearts sank a little.

n…

nThe next day.

nBanging on the table came out of the lab.

nEveryone reacted like frightened bunnies as they rushed into the room.

nChi Xue asked anxiously, “Professor Zhang, what is it?”

nZhang Ye said angrily, “There’s no way to do this! It’s too difficult!”

nFellow Zhou was unable to help too and could only say, “Then what can we do? What can we do?”

nFellow Chi encouraged, “Professor Little Zhang, give it another shot. Try it once more and don’t give up. If even you can’t do it, then no one can get it done!”

nZhang Ye sighed. “I’ll try it again then.”

nEveryone looked at each other and sighed.

n…

nOn the third day.

nIt was bad news again.

nEarly in the morning, Zhang Ye was already cursing up a storm in the lab. “Who the ** can solve an algorithm like this!”

nChi Xue encouraged, “Try calculating it again. You can definitely do it. You can do it!”

nHowever, Zhang Ye asserted, “Let me tell you guys this. Even if all of the other top mathematicians in the world were here, they wouldn’t be able to validate it!”

nFellow Zhou paled.

nFellow Chi sighed deeply.

nEveryone was looking at one another and disappointment was written all over their faces.

nNo one could do it?

nNot even the top mathematicians of the world?

nThen what could they do?

nHow were they going to carry on with the research for the country?

nWe’re done for!

nEverything’s over!

nAll of a sudden, a female researcher turned around. She covered her mouth and started weeping.

nBeside her, a female doctor sniffed and started crying as well.

nEveryone was instantly infected.

nEven Chi Xue’s eyes started reddening

nWhen Zhang Ye saw that, he coughed hard and said, “However!”

nEveryone looked at him in shock. “However what?”

nWith a loud clap, Zhang Ye slapped a piece of paper onto the table and said, “However, I did it! There, it’s the algorithm that you all wanted. Have a look.”

nEveryone was dumbfounded!

nChi Xue said in shock, “What did you say?”

nFellow Zhou’s jaw dropped. “You did it?”

nZhang Ye said, “Yeah.”

nFellow Chi said exasperatedly, “Didn’t you say you couldn’t do it?”

nZhang Ye corrected, “I’m saying that the other top mathematicians couldn’t do it, but I did it.”

nEveryone nearly spat out a mouthful of blood!

n“Why did you sigh so loudly then!”

n“Professor Zhang, were you trying to scare us?”

n“Aiyo, you scared me to death!”

n“I really thought that you couldn’t get it done!”

n“Professor Zhang, you’re so awful! You made me cry!”

n“For the past few days, you’ve been shouting about how difficult it was and how you were stuck, as well as cursing and banging tables, so we thought that you hadn’t made any progress at all! So how did it suddenly end up getting completed?”

nThey had seen Zhang Ye run himself ragged for the past few days.

nHe would complain, he would shout in anger, he would bang on tables. So any normal person would think that no progress had been made on the algorithm. But Zhang Ye? When everyone was feeling hopeless and crying, this fellow suddenly took out a piece of paper and told them that the problem had been solved? And it didn’t even take three days? At most, it had only taken him two full days to complete it!

nThen why were you banging on tables every day?

nWhy were you cursing and swearing every day?

nWasn’t it proceeding great?

nIt was maddening and funny at the same time, so everyone was at a loss for words.

nChi Xue burst out laughing. “Professor Zhang, I think I finally know why you’ve got such bad relationships with others.”

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