Top Student at Their Peak
Chapter 325 - 125: It’s All About Mentality

Chapter 325: Chapter 125: It’s All About Mentality

After careful consideration, Qiao Yu believed that this matter couldn’t be rushed. At the very least, he should wait until the conference next month, to solve this problem in front of as many mathematicians as possible, as that would be most advantageous for him.

Therefore, from any angle, it wasn’t feasible for the proof of the Geometric Langlands Conjecture to be released so quickly. But he had promised Professor Pan that he would call to inform him as soon as he thought of a method of proof.

Yet, Qiao Yu could not tolerate breaking his word to someone who had helped him...

So Qiao Yu quickly made a decision.

This idea would be temporarily shelved.

As long as he didn’t continue to think about how to prove it, he wouldn’t know if his method was correct, so not calling yet couldn’t be considered breaking his promise.

Perfect!

Writing the paper first was the most important current task; priorities needed to be set.

...

At the same time, across the ocean at Princeton University.

Zhang Shuwen stood in front of Lott Degen’s office door and raised his hand to knock.

"Come in."

After hearing the voice of Dean Degen, Zhang Shuwen nodded slightly to the secretary beside him before pushing the door open and entering.

Zhang Shuwen respected the dean of Princeton School of Mathematics, not just because he also served as the editor of Ann.Math, but also because over the years, Lott Degen had helped shield them, the Huaxia descendants, from much official harassment.

Some things that shouldn’t have happened were happening, but at least they were kept outside the campus.

Of course, this was perhaps related to him always focusing on theoretical mathematics research, never getting involved with applications.

In any case, the world was becoming bewitched, making goodwill all the more precious.

"Good morning, Professor Degen."

"Hi, good morning, please sit down, hmm, would you like a cup of coffee? You know, I’m not used to drinking tea, so I only have coffee. Anyway, it’s just about caffeine intake. I find your Huaxia tea ceremony more time-consuming than brewing coffee."

"Coffee will do. Actually, those intricate tea-brewing steps you see are mainly to provide a social venue for those with time and money, much like inviting someone to French cuisine; generally, we just brew tea casually."

"Haha, is that so? It seems I don’t know enough about Huaxia culture. Maybe I should delve deeper into this country."

Zhang Shuwen smiled and then sat on the sofa.

After a while, the secretary knocked and entered, bringing in a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

This was a rare hot drink on this land, though a bit bitter. But if he only asked for a cup of water, it would surely be cold.

In early April, though it was already spring in Princeton, the morning temperatures in Celsius often remained in single digits. Under such temperature conditions, Zhang Shuwen intrinsically rejected drinking cold water in the morning.

"Alright, Professor Degen, you specially called me here for something?"

"What else could it be? It’s about Qiao Yu."

"Eh? Didn’t I already approve his manuscript? Ah... I even remember my evaluation was excellent mathematical intuition and impeccable proof logic."

Speaking of this, Zhang Shuwen couldn’t help but smile.

This was his first time reviewing for Ann.Math when the editor urged him to review quickly because all other reviewers had submitted their opinions. The manuscript was published by a sixteen-year-old Huaxia student.

Unfortunately, Qiao Yu wasn’t his student; frustratingly, despite having his email, Qiao Yu hadn’t written him a single email yet.

"Haha, no, it’s not about the paper. The paper is already in layout, and once printed, I’ve decided to give him a personally signed copy of the sample and hand it to him in person," Lott Degen said with a smile.

Zhang Shuwen was somewhat envious; if he had received such treatment at sixteen, he might have been ecstatic.

One wonders what expression that kid Qiao Yu would have.

But unfortunately, one cannot be young again. He now often receives personally signed documents from Lott Degen... without any emotional fluctuation.

"In person? Are you planning to go to Huaxia soon?" Zhang Shuwen asked.

"No, no, no, didn’t you know? Next month’s Algebraic Geometry Conference in Paris, the organizing committee has already formally invited Qiao Yu, and he will have a thirty-minute presentation. I plan to go to Paris to attend his presentation, and by the way, Schulz will also be there. I hope you can find time to make a trip, too.

You know the kid, maybe you can facilitate a smoother communication between us. Hmm, although Tian Ye will certainly go, I was considering the possibility of discussing with Qiao Yu whether he’s interested in pursuing a Ph.D. at Princeton. Many of the seniors at the Institute for Advanced Study are interested in him," Lott Degen replied.

The century-long honor of Princeton School of Mathematics was built on a foundation of mathematical prodigies.

Having such a student, with experience studying abroad at Princeton, significantly increases the likelihood of another Fields Medalist among Princeton’s alumni.

Such top mathematics awards, even for Princeton, aren’t so plentiful. If we only count alumni, so far, there are only six. If we include professors and researchers from the Institute for Advanced Study, the number only rises to 15.

Of course, these figures are enough to be proud of, being unique among Ivy League schools.

Though Princeton’s university scale is only a quarter of Harvard University’s and far smaller than its fellow Ivy League Yale, as of now, Harvard University has only four Fields Medal alumni, while Yale has only three.