The night before the college entrance exam results were released, I redeemed my Peking University ad

Chapter 27 Not coming? Then don't come!

"??????"

"What the hell? Not going??"

"Really? Ji Bai said he's not going?"

"Seriously? You're just going to cancel on something this important?"

"Wow, that's awesome! They just said they weren't going?"

"Support Ji Bai! Why is he being treated differently?"

"What should we do then? Does that mean our research won't be recognized internationally?"

……

Ji Bai's words "I won't go" instantly ignited the entire internet.

Previously, everyone had tacitly agreed that even if they felt aggrieved, angry, or as if they had been forced to drink a cup of stale tea, they still had to go to ICM.

That is the highest podium in the world of mathematics, the venue for the Fields Medal, and an opportunity that the Chinese mathematics community has been waiting for for half a century.

If you don't go, people will have even more to say. Look, they themselves don't dare to come.

That's why that long post from the influential blogger resonated so much. It was humiliating, but rationally everyone knew that this was a journey they had to take.

But now Ji Bai says: I'm not going!

Everyone was completely dumbfounded!

After a brief moment of shock, those "rational and objective" and "awakened" individuals who had been stirring up trouble online immediately sensed an opportunity and swarmed in like flies smelling blood.

The first to launch an attack was Song Zhewen, the education influencer with millions of followers who had previously published a long article criticizing Ji Bai for being "arrogant and conceited."

"Just as I expected! What did I say before? Arrogance is the easiest mistake for geniuses to make, and it's also the most fatal one!"

"Today, Ji Bai proved my judgment with his actions. No, do you think ICM is like the vegetable market downstairs in your neighborhood, where you can go whenever you want and not go whenever you don't want?"

"Do you think the international recognition of Goldbach's Conjecture is just your achievement? Behind you lies the expectation of generations of the entire Chinese mathematics community!"

"Back then, when Mr. Chen proved '1+2' in a six-square-meter boiler room, did he ever consider giving up because of the harsh conditions? When Mr. Hua traveled all over the country promoting mathematics despite his ailing leg, did he ever consider giving up because he was looked down upon?"

"You're not even willing to go to ICM now, and you still call yourself a thoroughbred? A thoroughbred isn't for throwing tantrums!"

"Have you considered the feelings of Academician Wang and others when you publicly say 'I won't go'? Have you considered the feelings of those senior figures who flew from Beijing to Fucheng overnight to support you?"

"You may not cherish your own reputation, but please don't let your willfulness destroy the glimmer of hope that everyone has finally seen."

"Ultimately, he's just too young and idealistic, not up to the task!"

This long post was immediately shared widely. The comments section was flooded with similar posts, like a pre-planned chorus.

"Well said! Too young! Just because you proved Gordon's conjecture doesn't mean you can defy the world? Do you think a high school student can change the rules of academia?"

"It's not that I don't support Ji Bai, but he really went too far this time. So many big shots flew over overnight because of him, and he negated everyone's efforts with a simple 'I'm not going.' That's not backbone, that's willfulness."

"There are plenty of talented people, but those who go far are those who know how to compromise. If you don't go to the ICM, they will have an excuse not to recognize your proof. In that case, it won't just be you who suffers, but the entire Chinese mathematics community."

"I spoke up for him yesterday, but I'll let it go today. This kid is spoiled."

"That's too willful!"

"They have absolutely no sense of the bigger picture!"

……

At the Fucheng Guesthouse, Academician Wang and his group were completely baffled by Ji Bai's Weibo posts.

"This kid! How could he just announce online that he's not going!"

Director Zhang from Peking University paced anxiously, exclaiming, "This is terrible! The whole world knows, and we're in an even more passive position!"

Dean Lin of Tsinghua University sighed: "We can't entirely blame him. Anyone would be angry in his shoes. We have to go to someone else's territory to report on our own achievements. I would feel frustrated too."

Dean Wu of Nanjing University frowned: "It's frustrating as it may be, but that's the reality. If we don't go, our research might never be internationally recognized, which would be such a pity!"

Everyone looked at Academician Wang.

Academician Wang rubbed his throbbing temples and said helplessly, "What else can I do? I'll go there myself and talk to this kid in person."

"We understand that he's angry, but the work still needs to be done. We can't let such a great achievement be ruined like this."

……

The online army of people offering advice and reassurance has also been busy.

After Ji Bai posted his "I'm not going" message, besides those who criticized him and those who supported him, there was also a large number of netizens caught in the middle, leaving comments in the comment section in an almost pleading tone.

"Ji Bai, can't we just ignore them? Let's go to ICM, present the proof to the whole world, and make those arrogant foreigners admit their mistakes. That's the real slap in the face!"

"That's right! If you say you're not going now, you're playing right into their hands! They're just looking for an excuse to deny you, and you've given them that excuse! Not going is the only way you'll fall into their trap!"

"Ji Bai, just go for the sake of us who support you, okay? We don't want to see you being gossiped about. Go, stand on that stage, and let the whole world see how amazing you are."

"Don't let a moment of anger cause you to miss your best chance to prove yourself. The ICM is held every four years; if you miss this one, you'll have to wait another four! How many four-year periods do you have to wait?"

"We know you've been wronged, but this opportunity is truly invaluable!"

"We must prioritize the greater good!"

……

The comments section was flooded with persuasive voices, ranging from appealing to emotions to reasoning, from presenting facts to explaining logic—every conceivable angle was considered.

Everyone was waiting for Ji Bai to change his mind, or at least post a Weibo to explain, to put it more tactfully, and to leave himself an out.

At 6 PM, Ji Bai updated his Weibo.

Everyone rushed in instantly.

They wanted to see if Ji Bai had changed his mind.

Or at least explain or respond to what you were thinking.

However, there was no explanation, no apology, and no response to any controversy.

There is only one title, just a few words:

A complete and rigorous proof of the Collatz conjecture.

The attachment is a PDF file of about ten pages.

……

The entire internet fell silent instantly.

"?????????"