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

The five-day conference on the conjecture verification officially came to a close, and the tense academic battles suddenly relaxed, creating a more relaxed atmosphere.

Netizens are making a lot of fun with the memes.

"Three thousand per person, and you still need connections to book it!"

"Any one of the people sitting at this table could easily book the entire hall with their appearance fee."

"Hilarious! This is a global talent war among top universities! First they're recruiting from abroad, then from within China. Ji Shen's connections are incredible!"

"Nanjing University is still the same Nanjing University, always prioritizing female students when recruiting. It's an old tradition, isn't it!"

"I was wondering why the domestic universities hadn't made a move; they were all holding back their big surprises for the banquet!"

"In the past, Tsinghua and Peking Universities were vying for top-scoring students; now they're vying for professors, especially 18-year-old professors! It's outrageous!"

"Seeing the whole world scrambling to get our Chinese youths, that feels fucking awesome!"

"We're both eighteen, but while others are bringing glory to the country, I ignored the risks and continued installation!"

"How can the differences between people be so vast!"

"No joke, the gap between you and Ji Shen is bigger than the gap between you and a dog!"

Dog: It's not that small!

……

At 8 p.m. sharp, the crystal chandeliers in the banquet hall lit up simultaneously, filling the entire space with warm golden light.

The closing banquet has officially begun.

Academician Zhou straightened his tie, walked slowly onto the stage, picked up the microphone, and wore a gentle yet dignified smile.

"Distinguished guests, scholars, and online viewers."

The five-day World Conference on the Verification of Mathematical Conjectures is about to come to a successful conclusion.

First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Mathematical Association, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Ji Bai.

At the age of eighteen, to achieve such unprecedented success is no exaggeration to call him a prodigy.

This is a source of pride for Chinese mathematics and a blessing for all humankind.

Having said all that, the polite remarks were impeccable, and the audience responded with courteous applause.

But then his tone shifted, becoming serious, carrying a hint of the earnestness of someone who had been there, as his gaze slowly swept over Ji Bai in the audience:

"However, it is a good thing that young people are sharp and talented. But in the end, scholarship requires a period of reflection and a passing down of knowledge."

Young people who are too sharp and ambitious are prone to arrogance and setbacks. Talent can help you go fast, but experience and knowledge can help you go far.

Which of you senior scholars here hasn't spent decades working in academia? You've seen more of life than you've ever had.

Learn from your seniors, heed the advice of your elders, temper your arrogance, cultivate a steady mind, and take things one step at a time. This is the right way to pursue knowledge.

We old folks are all willing to share our knowledge and skills and give you young people a helping hand.

In the academic world, it is ultimately about the older generation guiding the younger, passing the torch from one generation to the next, that allows the path to ever wider and wider.

……

His words were spoken in a grand and righteous manner, every sentence claiming to be "for your own good," and every word meant to "teach you a lesson in how to be a decent human being."

Many older scholars in the audience nodded in agreement without thinking.

That's the logic.

No matter how capable Ji Bai is, he's only eighteen years old, younger than many people's grandchildren.

Even the most magnanimous person would feel a little awkward having these titans bow down to a teenager.

Academician Zhou's words gave them a way out. He said, "I may not be as good as you in terms of academic knowledge, but I am better than you in terms of experience, seniority, and knowledge."

Charles nodded slightly, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and his shoulders, which had been tense for several days, completely relaxed.

William also twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a relieved expression. Even many old-school scholars in the country nodded in agreement.

Young people always need their elders to keep them in check, otherwise they'll get too big for their britches and become arrogant.

But the young netizens in the live stream were unhappy and immediately erupted in anger.

"Damn! That red-haired old man is up to his old tricks again! He's got to start acting all high and mighty after a couple of compliments!"

"So, they've already solved a century-old problem, and now you're here lecturing them to be cautious?"

"If you can't compete in academics, you compete in age? Why not compete in who solves more problems?"

"The experience of the older generation? The tough nuts that the older generation couldn't crack after decades of research, this guy easily crushed at eighteen. What's the use of that experience anyway?"

"Hilarious! Helping someone up? They've already flown into outer space, and you're still on the ground trying to help them up? Aren't you afraid of hurting your back?"

"I knew he wouldn't come up with anything good! He started by belittling people, then praised them excessively in the middle, and now he's giving me this lecture at the end. How annoying!"

"Young people are just too sharp-tongued? They're standing there because of their abilities, why can't they be sharp-tongued?"

"Because you're old? Because you don't shower?"

……

Academician Zhou rambled on for about ten minutes.

"Next, let's give a warm round of applause to welcome Ji Bai to the stage to share a few words with everyone."

Academician Zhou turned to the side and gestured an invitation, his smile gentle.

Ji Bai paused for a moment, then raised an eyebrow.

Unexpectedly, they invited me to come on stage.

What's this old man up to?

But he wasn't afraid.

Old Deng, you're the one who told me to say this, so don't cry later!

……

Meanwhile, in a secluded, dark conference room somewhere in Beijing, smoke filled the air.

Several figures sat around the large screen, their eyes glued to the live stream, their fingers already on the keyboard.

"He's here! He's going on stage!"

The leader chuckled sinisterly: "Vice Chairman Zhou has laid the groundwork. Ji Bai will definitely be dissatisfied and will definitely refute him later."

You all keep a close eye on him. Seize the loopholes in his words and steer the narrative towards accusations of "disrespect for elders," "arrogance," and "youthful impetuosity."

"Isn't he amazing? I'll ruin his reputation! I'll let everyone know he's just an arrogant, disrespectful brat!"

The group nodded in agreement, their fingers resting on the keyboard, their eyes glued to the screen.

They were just waiting for Ji Bai to say something "treasonous" so they could launch a massive attack on him.

……

On the stage, Ji Bai took the microphone and stood in the center of the spotlight.

He offered no pleasantries or small talk, his gaze fixed on Academician Zhou beside him, his tone calm yet resolute:

"Vice Chairman Zhou's words are very good, but I don't quite agree with them."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent for half a second.

The smile on Academician Zhou's face did not freeze; instead, a hint of smugness appeared on his face.

That's exactly what I've been waiting to hear!

Your public rebuttal of academic seniors only confirms your reputation for arrogance and ignorance of etiquette!

You're going to take the blame for this!

A murmur of commotion arose from the audience. The older scholars frowned, thinking that the young man was indeed too young and lacked composure.

The people in the backstage conference room had their eyes light up, and their fingers were already hovering over the Enter key.

But just when everyone was waiting for the boy to have a good talk and argue with his elders, he was about to give in.

Ji Bai slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, over the faces that were scrutinizing, disdainful, or expectant.

With the fiery edge unique to youth, his voice carried through the microphone to every corner of the banquet hall and to every live broadcast room around the world:

"In my heart, there is a young China!"