A room inside Princeton’s university library.
Vera pushed open the door and walked in. She walked to the table joyfully and stuttered. Finally, she was able to get out a complete sentence.
“He’s researching the Riemann hypothesis!”
Molina was sitting at the desk, and without looking up, she knew exactly what Vera’s facial expression was.
“The thesis on arXiv? I know, what’s so surprising about it…”
Molina’s sense of urgency had become stronger ever since that thesis was released.
Lu Zhou had never been defeated by a problem before. Even Millennium Prize Problems like the Navier–Stokes equations and the Yang-Mills Equations, were no match for him.
Because Lu Zhou had become an academic leader, he rarely participated in the mathematics world. He hadn’t been to any conferences, but the mathematics community had not forgotten about him.
Even to this day, stories about him were still spread around the Princeton campus.
There was no doubt that Lu Zhou was a powerful opponent.
She had been attacking this conjecture for many years. If Lu Zhou was the one to take the crown from her, she would have a mental breakdown…
“Molina…”
Molina looked at Vera and blinked as she asked, “What?”
Vera forced a smile and asked, “Where do you think his research is at?”
Molina stared at Vera’s blushing white cheeks and said, “How would I know? Why don’t you ask him? You have his email.”
“I…” Vera played with her own finger. She looked away from Molina and said, “… I’m not good enough for him yet.”
I can’t!
I can’t take this anymore!
Molina stood up and held Vera by the shoulders.
“Listen, Ms. Pulyuy, I know he’s your ideal lover, but realize that he is our enemy! You can’t…”
Before Molina could finish, Vera interrupted her.
“He is not my enemy!”
Vera’s eyes were full of determination.
“… Okay, I worded it incorrectly.” Molina thought for a second and said, “Don’t you have a contract with him about the Fields Medal?”
“!”
Vera suddenly began to look nervous.
Molina noticed this, and she smirked and patted the girl on her shoulders.
“Do your best. If we solve the Riemann hypothesis, we’ll win ten Fields Medals.”
Vera held her breath and tightened her fists as she muttered to herself, “If I solve the Riemann hypothesis… he will notice me.”
Molina gave her an encouraging look and said, “That’s right, not just him, the entire world will notice you.”
Vera’s face turned even redder as she looked down at her feet and smiled.
“No, no thanks…
“Just him is enough.”
…
There wasn’t a lot of exciting news in the mathematics world; therefore, the story of Lu Zhou beginning to research the Riemann hypothesis was considered a sensational story. Everyone was talking about Professor Lu’s quest on solving the Riemann hypothesis; from online forums to Princeton’s campus. Lu Zhou became the talk of the town.
Students weren’t the only ones talking about him; the professors were no exception.
A big story like this obviously didn’t escape the ears of Professor Fefferman, head of the Princeton mathematics department.
While Vera was talking to Molina, Professor Fefferman came to Professor Deligne’s office with a printed copy of the same thesis.
When he arrived at Deligne’s office, Deligne was sitting at his desk.
When Deligne heard footsteps, he looked up and squinted his eyes at the thesis in Professor Fefferman’s hand.
“I’m guessing you have his arXiv thesis in your hand.”
“Looks like you’ve already read it…” Professor Fefferman threw the thesis aside and said, “I didn’t expect you to be so well informed.”
“I’m quite good at keeping up with the times, and I’ve been using the Internet since 20 years ago…” Professor Deligne looked at the thesis and said, “You came here just for this?”
“What do you mean just for this?” Professor Fefferman looked in disbelief and said, “Haven’t you heard of that legend? The person who can solve the Riemann hypothesis will become an immortal, not just in an abstract sense, but literally.”
This legend came from a long time ago, around the 19th century. French mathematician Hadamard and Belgian mathematician Poussin made the first substantial progress on the Riemann hypothesis. They lived to 98 and 96 years old respectively.
Living to nearly a hundred years old back then was quite amazing. That started a legend where the person who proved the Riemann hypothesis would live forever.
Of course, this was only a joke, but this joke had been living on for a century now.
Deligne snorted and spoke.
“… That legend is more than a century-year-old. Bohr and Landa’s theorem was much more impactful than Hadarmard’s. If I remember correctly, they both died in their sixties.”
“Okay fine, God isn’t going to take care of everyone.” Professor Fefferman smiled and shrugged. He then asked, “Legends aside, don’t you think his thesis is very interesting?”
Professor Deligne: “Before he publishes a formal proof thesis, I will refrain from commenting.”
Professor Fefferman smiled and said, “I’m not asking you to make a comment, I’m just curious about the point he made about solving Riemann zeta function using the π(x) function. I did some research and didn’t find any interesting clues… I’m curious, how do you think he will solve it?”
Professor Fefferman: “What do you think he will do?”
Professor Deligne glanced at him and said, “Didn’t you work with him on the Navier–Stokes equations? Don’t you know him better?”
Professor Fefferman said, “Actually, I don’t know him very well, he’s used to working alone.”
After that, Professor Deligne groaned.
He reminisced about the past and said, “You can’t solve the Riemann hypothesis with just an idea. I can come up with a dozen ideas on how to solve it, but none of them gives me hope. The π(x) function is pretty new, but not totally unique. People have tried using it before.”
Professor Fefferman nodded.
This wasn’t the first time he heard the idea of using π(x) to solve the Riemann zeta function. He had even heard people talk about it in cafes.
“He’s a scholar who is both good at using tools and creating tools. Whether or not he successfully applies the π(x) function, I’m certain he will be able to find the successful tools.”
Professor Fefferman: “Like the Group Structure Method?”
“Not quite.” Professor Deligne smiled and said, “This problem has troubled the mathematics world for more than a century and a half. He will probably create a new tool that will help us understand the Riemann zeta function.”
He paused for a second and continued, “I’m looking forward to the next International Congress of Mathematicians.”
Professor Fefferman said, “He might not come.”
Deligne shook his head.
“Trust me, he is coming.”
