Chapter 46: A Fleeting Success or Unexpected Changes?

Wang Lin looked at Jiang Zhe and spoke truthfully:

"Yes, this ranking is divided into domestic and international. Currently, most of the popular paradoxes are from foreign scholars."

"And the first place is naturally foreign: [Brain in a Vat]."

"Others near the top alongside [Brain in a Vat] include [Trolley Problem], [Ship of Theseus], [Laplace's Demon], [fermi paradox], [Zeno's Tortoise], [Klein Bottle], and so on..."

"As for our country's paradoxes, most of them originate from ancient times."

"As far as I know, the most famous one currently is from Kyoto Huaqing: his academic name is Zhuangzi, and his full name is Professor Zhuang Zhou."

Hearing this, Jiang Zhe suddenly had a flash of inspiration and asked, "Professor Zhuangzi—is there anyone in history with the same name as him?"

Wang Lin looked confused: "No one has the level of Professor Zhuang Zhou."

Jiang Zhe nodded slightly and asked again, "Has Professor Zhuangzi ever published 'Free and Easy Wandering', 'On the Equality of Things', or 'The Secret of Caring for Life'?"

These works were all written by the Zhuang Zhou of the Warring States period in his previous life.

He was very curious whether the modern Zhuang Zhou in this world had also published these books.

If not...

Then he would plagiarize them!

After all, they could provide him with even more original paradoxes!

"Oh, those? Those are all Professor Zhuang Zhou's bestsellers. Why, do you like Professor Zhuangzi too?"

Hearing this, Jiang Zhe felt a bit disappointed, but it was acceptable. He smiled and played along, "I do..."

"What about the work 'Laozi'?"

"Why are you suddenly interested in these?" Wang Lin frowned, finding it incomprehensible, but still told the truth: "'Laozi' was written by Professor Li Er of Kyoto University."

"Professor Zhuang Zhou is at Huaqing, and Professor Li Er is at Kyoto University; both are gold-medal professors. Many of their books actually provide the source for various paradoxes."

As Wang Lin finished speaking, Jiang Zhe was shocked.

He had thought this world was a simple parallel world, but who would have expected that besides Zhuang Zhou being a modern person, Li Er, who wrote the classic 'Laozi', was also a modern person!

Good grief, so this world really is a world of paradoxes, isn't it?

If he eventually solved the paradoxes of all these gold-medal professors, what would happen then?

Jiang Zhe actually felt a faint sense of anticipation!

Jiang Zhe and Wang Lin chatted for a while longer, giving him a clear understanding of the paradox rankings and the popular paradoxes at home and abroad.

Old Zhao and Wang Guosheng didn't stay long either, leaving the space to Jiang Zhe and the other two.

Seizing this opportunity, Jiang Zhe used his phone to check the paradox websites on the internet.

After looking for a while, he found that 80% were already solved in his previous life, and 20% were original creations by paradox creators, which were quite simple.

He quickly lost interest!

Finally, he returned to the dormitory with the other two.

...

By the time the three of them reached the dormitory and fell asleep,

News about Jiang Zhe was still circulating on the internet.

Different news stories occupied different rankings on various platforms, but most were in the top 10; none were outside the Top 10.

"Incredible! A Self-Directed Original Paradox: The Bootstrap Paradox, Solved by Him Alone!"

"Shocking! A Heaven-Defying Paradox Comparable to the Grandfather Paradox, Solved in Just 7 Days. He is..."

"Is it Possible That Our Universe is Cyclic?"

"Would You Believe Humans Have No Past or Future? Latest Proof..."

"Is Jiang Zhe a Flash in the Pan or the Arrival of a Variable?"

"..."

One news story after another swept across the internet like a storm.

Even netizens who disliked scientific or philosophical paradoxes were bombarded until they felt compelled to click in.

"Holy crap, the past and future might not exist; I've always believed that. If time is a line, then all three points are advancing together. I totally agree with this sentence!"

"The future... Host Jiang said that 'fixed' people cannot realize they are fixed; only a 'variable' knows they are a variable. I suddenly feel a bit of despair."

"Despair my foot. Someone in his livestream said Jiang Zhe himself is the variable."

"Besides that, others are saying he's a reincarnator, a cultivator, or a transmigrator."

"Damn, I believe his ability is awesome, but can you guys stop making up so many identities for him? Hey!"

"My name isn't 'Hey', it's [Chu Yuquan]!!!"

"..."

There were those who supported Jiang Zhe.

Naturally, there were also those who were dismissive.

"I admit the [Bootstrap Paradox] has some level of merit, but if I'm being honest, he's only at the level of a Lv1 paradox creator on the Paradox Encyclopedia website."

"Is the Bootstrap Paradox really that great? I looked at it, and Jiang Zhe didn't solve it from the essence of the paradox. Instead, he proposed the 'Universe Cyclic Theory' to solve it. That's just sophistry; I don't accept it!"

"You say he's at the level of a Lv1 creator? You're insulting my Master Jiang. Where is your work? Can I have a look?"

"Oh? As an onlooker, I can't even evaluate it? I'm the audience, he's the creator. I can't even speak?"

"Exactly, exactly."

After being confronted by netizens who supported Jiang Zhe, those trolls and malicious smearers just grumbled a few words and then disappeared.

However, a new batch of "internet friends" soon emerged.

"At the end of the day, Jiang Zhe had already set up a loophole when he proposed the Bootstrap Paradox. He intentionally let the 'Universe Cyclic Theory' solve it. Moreover, this theory is simply not respectable!"

"I agree. At most, it's the level of folk science; it can't be taken seriously!"

"You've all been fooled by Jiang Zhe."

"Damn it, I can't stand you people. Every single one of you is a 'Big V' influencer. Are you trying this hard just for a bit of traffic?"

Some were jealous, while others felt it was a pity.

Those who were jealous were naturally those who saw Jiang Zhe's sudden explosion in popularity and felt it was unfair.

He was younger than them and had a higher level than them; they simply refused to accept it!

Until...

A piece of news on the official website of Kyoto University of Science hit the Weibo headlines, and only then did the bitter comments vanish.

"Kyoto University of Science, Certified by Professor Hua and Professor Feng: 'Universe Cyclic Theory' aligns with formal academic research. The two professors have designated it as the 'CCC Model'."

[...]

[As the name suggests: We humans stand at the end of time and can witness the universe constantly reincarnating before our eyes—when one universe reaches its end, a brand new universe begins.]

[In this model: All matter in the universe will eventually turn into photons. Once these photons are diluted to the limit, they will trigger a new Big Bang, thus starting a new cycle of universal life.]

[...]

[Thanks to Su City host Jiang Zhe for bringing a new direction to the nation's astronomers!]

Jiang Zhe had proposed the rough concept and framework.

Hua Yunfeng and Professor Feng had unconsciously acted as his backup, completing the relevant professional data for him.

In the eyes of the outside world, it was an excellent pairing!

When this news was shared by Jiang Zhe's fans to Weibo, it quickly climbed to Top 2.

Those who were previously jealous clicked on it. Upon finding the official stamps of the two professors, Hua Yunfeng and Professor Feng, as well as the academy, those trolls and haters were dumbfounded.

The fans became even more sarcastic toward the trolls, and Jiang Zhe's reputation began to climb rapidly.

"Fuck, he actually made it. Even Kyoto University of Science has certified it!"

"Damn, how is that possible? A 24-year-old getting certified by professional authorities. Don't tell me there's some dirty deal going on?"

"Crap, is this Jiang Zhe I've been bashing actually a genius?"

"The clown was me all along!"

"..."

...

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, it was the next morning.

Jiang Zhe had just woken up. He opened the black curtains, and as a ray of warm sunlight shone in, his whole body felt warm and cozy.

At that moment, a phone call came in.

"Is this Mr. Jiang Zhe? Do you remember me? I'm Old Feng, I spoke with you on the line last time."

"Last night, Professor Hua Yunfeng and I made an 80% supplement to your theory."

"Your theoretical framework was relatively rough. We collaborated with some astronomers we know to supplement it, and then we want to publish it abroad, hoping to gain recognition from our peers."

"We also have a bit of a selfish request. We'd like to include names—just Professor Hua Yunfeng's is fine. I'm just helping him out. Is that okay with you?"

In truth, Old Feng was being quite thick-skinned by calling.

If Jiang Zhe's theory were to be stolen by someone else...

Old Feng and Hua Yunfeng naturally couldn't stand by. Rather than let it be stolen, it was better to contact Jiang Zhe directly.

Besides, the country really hadn't produced any decent theories in recent years.

While the big names in philosophy had a lot of international fame, in terms of science, due to national circumstances and innovation issues, the country was basically lagging far behind the rest of the world!