I’m Really a Superstar

The next day.

Early in the morning.

Zhang Ye stretched and got up from bed.

This 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.”

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

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

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

Iron gates?

Iron bars?

Iron manacles?

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

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

“It must be Professor Zhang.”

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

“Why don’t you go?”

“I’m not gonna go.”

“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?”

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

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

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

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

In the cafeteria.

People were gradually arriving for breakfast.

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

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

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

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

Zhou 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.”

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

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

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

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

The 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.

Five pages.

Ten pages.

Twenty pages.

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

“Fellow Chi—” a researcher began to say.

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

No 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.

Soon after, everyone quietly exited the room.

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

Another 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.”

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

Fellow 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.”

Everyone gave bitter smiles.

That’s right.

There was actually nothing scary about hackers.

And neither were mathematicians scary.

But 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.

For example, the CIH virus!

For example, the Panda Burning Incense virus!

They had both left the entire world shivering in fright!

So 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?

Time slowly passed.

Problems started surfacing.

…

Noon.

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

“It’s too difficult!”

A 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Everyone’s hearts sank a little.

…

The next day.

Banging on the table came out of the lab.

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

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

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

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

Fellow 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!”

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

Everyone looked at each other and sighed.

…

On the third day.

It was bad news again.

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

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

However, 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!”

Fellow Zhou paled.

Fellow Chi sighed deeply.

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

No one could do it?

Not even the top mathematicians of the world?

Then what could they do?

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

We’re done for!

Everything’s over!

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

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

Everyone was instantly infected.

Even Chi Xue’s eyes started reddening

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

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

With 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.”

Everyone was dumbfounded!

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

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

Zhang Ye said, “Yeah.”

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

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

Everyone nearly spat out a mouthful of blood!

“Why did you sigh so loudly then!”

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

“Aiyo, you scared me to death!”

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

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

“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?”

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

He 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!

Then why were you banging on tables every day?

Why were you cursing and swearing every day?

Wasn’t it proceeding great?

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

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