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

The entire internet: "..."

silence.

Dead silence.

Three seconds later, the comment section erupted in laughter.

"???? Military training???"

"What the hell? I've been waiting for this for ages and you're telling me it's military training??"

"Mathematicians from all over the world flew in to hear a lecture, only to find the speaker was doing university military training?!"

"Hilarious! Foreigners: We've come as a group to hear your proof. Ji Bai: No way, I need to stand at attention."

The principal issued an order overnight: Ji Bai is exempt from military training! You will go and give lectures to foreigners!

"Advisor: While others are doing military training, you're attending an international academic conference. You'll get full credits, plus extra credits!"

"That makes sense! After all, they're about to become college students after just finishing the college entrance exam; military training is the most important thing (doge)."

"Help! This contrast is hilarious! First, they couldn't get any ICM members, and now the validation conference is less important than military training!"

Ji Bai: What international conference could be more important than my university military training?

……

The originally serious yet inspiring atmosphere was instantly shattered by the words "military training".

Everyone laughed so hard they were practically crowing, and they felt inexplicably satisfied.

Yes, he's only eighteen years old, a soon-to-be college student who just finished the college entrance exam.

What international events or authoritative certifications? In his eyes, they might not be as important as university military training.

……

In the conference room of the city guesthouse.

Academician Wang was leading a group of people to finalize the preliminary agenda for the verification conference. His pen was circling around the schedule, and he was muttering, "Early September is just right, neither too hot nor too cold."

Although no official statement has been issued, almost everyone has assumed that the verification conference will be postponed for two months.

Professor Wang and others are already very satisfied with what IMU has achieved.

You could even say that we've already won!

We can't really break with the world of mathematics and fight to the death, can we?

"How about around September 25th?"

Someone suggested.

"That day happened to be the Mid-Autumn Festival, which allowed foreigners to experience our traditional culture."

"Furthermore, with the National Day Golden Week approaching, we can attract some foreign tourists to visit!"

The bigwigs nodded silently upon hearing this.

It's a pretty good day, it seems like it's a good day.

Just then, Director Zhang's phone next to him dinged. He casually opened it, and after just one glance, he spat out the tea in his mouth.

"What's wrong?" Dean Lin was startled.

Director Zhang held up his phone, his expression as if he'd seen a ghost: "Ji Bai... Ji Bai said he doesn't have time in September."

"No time?"

Academician Wang frowned and put down his pen: "Haven't you fully recovered yet?"

"no……"

Director Zhang's lips twitched: "He said... he wants to do military training."

The meeting room fell silent for three seconds.

The pen in Academician Wang's hand fell to the table with a "clatter".

Dean Lin paused for two seconds, then couldn't help but laugh out loud: "This kid, he's even getting into the jokes."

"You scared me! I thought something had happened."

Dean Wu of Nanjing University clutched his chest and shook his head: "It was just a joke. This joke almost gave my old heart a heart attack."

"Nonsense!"

Academician Wang picked up the pen, shook his head with a smile, his tone full of indulgent helplessness.

"What's the big deal about university military training? We can just let the school know and get it waived. Such a big assessment event can't be delayed by military training, can it?"

"Exactly, this kid is just being mischievous, deliberately teasing netizens."

Director Zhang laughed along, "Let alone exempting you from training, even if you were to directly grant credits or scholarships, the school would still give you the green light all the way."

No one in the room took it seriously, thinking it was just a mischievous prank by a genius boy that became a meme that everyone on the internet could use.

Nobody took it to heart.

It's just university military training. Can a conference to verify three world-class hypotheses really be delayed because of a university military training?

Surely no one really thinks that way?

No way?

The answer is yes!

The foreigner actually believed it!

When the news reached the international internet, the tone changed completely.

Those foreigners had no idea about Chinese humor, no understanding of the playful undertones of "military training" in Chinese university life; they only saw one sentence:

The genius teenager in China who proved the three major conjectures said he wouldn't have time in September because he had to do military training.

Instantly, the internet exploded.

"Damn! That's incredibly arrogant! The world's top mathematicians came to hear his lecture, and he said he had to go to military training?"

"What is military training? More important than verifying the three world-class conjectures? This is an insult to the entire mathematics community!"

"I told you he was young and arrogant and didn't know the rules! IMU has already made concessions, but he's taking advantage of it!"

"This is incredibly disrespectful! Our scholars put aside their work and adjusted their schedules to prepare for a trip to China, and he just gives us this childish excuse?"

"As expected of a Chinese scholar, they have absolutely no academic integrity! They don't even understand the most basic principles of contractual obligations!"

Many university professors also joined in with sarcastic remarks:

"It's really disappointing! I used to admire his talent, but now it seems that no matter how talented you are, you won't go far without basic academic integrity."

"Military training? That sounds more like an excuse. It's probably a way to prove there are loopholes, and they're afraid to accept public verification, so they're just making excuses to delay."

"Since he's so busy, why not just cancel the validation conference? The ICM conference can proceed as scheduled, and those who are truly engaged in academic research will naturally come."

……

Chinese students studying abroad repeatedly explained in the comments section, their keyboards practically smoking from typing.

"This is Chinese humor! It's just teasing and joking!"

"Ji Bai didn't really cancel the verification conference; he was just joking about having military training in September! Don't take it seriously!"

"Just kidding! It's just a joke! Gastrude!"

But the foreigners wouldn't listen at all.

Or rather, some people genuinely don't understand, while others are pretending to be ignorant even when they know the truth.

Having finally found an opportunity to turn the tables and mock others, they weren't about to let it go easily. They unleashed a torrent of criticism using the words "military training," venting all the pent-up frustration they had been holding back.

"A joke? How can he joke about something that concerns the global academic community? It's clear he doesn't take this verification seriously at all."

"If you're going to try to whitewash this, at least come up with a plausible reason. Using military training as an excuse is something only you Chinese would come up with."

"This is probably the greatest humiliation for the international mathematics community this century!"

……

Even the official IMU account updated a statement.

[Supplementary explanation regarding the verification of Mr. Ji Bai's research findings:]

Given Mr. Ji Bai's recent schedule conflict, the proposed trip to China in September for verification has been postponed.

IMU will prioritize ensuring the smooth running of the ICM conference, presenting a high-level academic exchange for mathematicians worldwide.

If Mr. Ji Bai has sufficient time in the future, we always welcome him to go to the United States to participate in the ICM conference and exchange ideas with mathematicians from all over the world.

The International Mathematical Union has always maintained an open and inclusive attitude, respecting the personal choices of every scholar.

In layman's terms: It's your own fault for not having time, not that we don't want to go.

Since you're not cooperating, then let's forget about the verification.

The pent-up frustration of bowing down and giving in was so easily made up for, and Ji Bai was even labeled as "immature and disrespectful of academia".

You don't have time?

Skillful!

We don't want to go yet!