159: Chapter 159 of the Mathematical Yearbook is released! A media frenzy erupts!

Tuesday, 9:00 AM Eastern Time.

On the backend servers of the Princeton University Press official website, the latest digital edition of the Annals of Mathematics officially went live.

On the first page of the table of contents, a line of bolded text stood out prominently:

"Bounded Gaps Between Primes"

[Author's Note: At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain w̲̲̅̅k̲̲̅̅a̲̲̅̅n̲̲̅̅.c̲̲̅̅o̲̲̅̅m̲̲̅̅, choose as you wish.]

Author: Zhao Yang

(Beijing Forestry University / Peking University)

Pages: 1-128

If the previous arXiv preprint had only triggered intense discussion and private shock within academic circles...

...then the official publication in the Annals of Mathematics now was equivalent to the highest institution in academia stamping the paper with an indisputable official seal.

No loopholes, no controversy.

A century-old problem was declared completely conquered by the Annals of Mathematics.

Princeton University's official website even released a short press release specifically for this, expressing the highest level of academic tribute to this eighteen-year-old young mathematician from China.

The news crossed the Pacific Ocean and returned home at the speed of light.

Beijing Forestry University, top-floor conference room of the administration building.

Zhou Limin Zhou Limin hadn't slept all night; he sat at the conference table, holding a cup of strong tea that had already gone cold.

Sitting in the conference room were the head of the school's Publicity Department, the head of the Security Department, and leaders from several core departments.

Due to the advance notice from Professor Wang Wenyuan of the School of Mathematical Sciences, Peking University, the top brass of Yanlin University knew for certain that the paper had passed review.

"President, Princeton has updated!"

The Publicity Minister stared at the laptop in front of him and suddenly looked up, his voice sounding somewhat sharp with excitement.

"It's live! Officially published! The first column for the author's affiliation is our Beijing Forestry University!"

Zhou Limin's hand gripping the teacup suddenly tightened, and he took a deep breath.

"Good." He suppressed the wild joy in his heart, stood up, and his gaze swept across everyone present.

"Everyone, the hard battle is here. Academician Wang gave us a heads-up before; once this is officially announced, the domestic media's reaction will be absolutely explosive. In all the years since our Forestry University was founded, we have never experienced this level of public attention."

"Publicity Department, immediately post the press release we prepared in advance to the school's official website. Simultaneously, send targeted pushes to education reporters from all major state media outlets."

"Security Department, starting now, double the personnel at the South, North, and East gates. Strictly verify the credentials of anyone entering or leaving. We must not let reporters rush into the student dormitory area to disturb Student Zhao Yang's normal life!"

"Yes!" Several department heads immediately took their orders and hurried out of the conference room.

Zhou Limin's prediction was extremely accurate, but he still underestimated the domestic media's hunger for news of this caliber.

The speed at which the news exploded in domestic media circles was comparable to a hurricane.

The first to react were the top domestic academic self-media accounts and the BBS forums of major universities.

Subsequently, technology section editors from the three major portals—Sina, NetEase, and Sohu—almost simultaneously placed this news as the top headline on their homepages, accompanied by eye-catching, bold red text.

"Eighteen-Year-Old Chinese Freshman Conquers Century-Old Math Problem! Paper Officially Hits the World's Top Journal Today!"

"From College Entrance Examination Taker to World-Class Mathematician, Zhao Yang Only Took Half a Year!"

"Beijing Forestry University: How Did an Agricultural University Cultivate a Genius Who Solved the twin prime conjecture?"

Immediately following that, state media stepped in to set the tone.

The People's Daily official website published a short commentary at 10:00 AM, calling it "a major breakthrough in China's field of basic science, showcasing the hardcore scientific research strength of the new era's youth."

A reporter from Xinlong Agency directly contacted Academician Wang Wenyuan of Yanda for a telephone interview. During the interview, Academician Wang Wenyuan expressed unreserved praise for Zhao Yang and confirmed that Yanda and Yanlin University had already launched a joint training program for Zhao Yang.

As state media joined in, public opinion reached a boiling point.

On the internet, almost everyone was discussing the name Zhao Yang.

"Holy crap! This is insane? A freshman solving the twin prime conjecture? This is even more impressive than Old Chen!"

"It really is incredible! So badass! A century-old problem in the math world was actually solved by a freshman!"

"Giving a thumbs up for Dragon Country's genius youth!"

"Eighteen? A freshman? Solving a world problem? When I was eighteen, I was still worrying about passing my Advanced Mathematics final; this guy just went and changed the table of contents of the Advanced Mathematics textbook?"

"The main point is he's a Biology student! A cross-disciplinary dimensional strike, it's too terrifying!"

"I just want to know what this Zhao Yang looks like? Does he have a girlfriend?"

"I remember this name; the one who published that TIP paper before seemed to be Zhao Yang too, also from Beijing Forestry University! He's that amazing?"

"This is just too much of a genius..."

"A Biology major again, publishing in TIP, and now solving a top conjecture in mathematics... I feel like I don't understand this world anymore!"

"In fact, Zhao Yang also published a paper in a Nature sub-journal a few days ago! Although he was only the second author!"

"Holy crap! Too strong! Is he even human?"

Public opinion on the internet exploded.

Reporters from print media, TV stations, and online media were like sharks smelling blood; carrying cameras, recording pens, and notebooks, they swarmed out from all corners of Yanjing.

Their goal was only one—Beijing Forestry University.

12:00 PM.

Outside the South Gate of Beijing Forestry University.

Severe traffic congestion had already appeared on Tsinghua East Road. More than a dozen interview vehicles and satellite broadcast vans, printed with various TV station logos and newspaper names, were parked haphazardly on the side road.

Dozens of men and women wearing press badges, carrying 'long guns and short cannons' (cameras), surrounded the school's not-so-wide iron picket gate until it was completely blocked.

Flashbulbs lit up alternately, their blinding light still clearly visible even under the midday sun.

"Sir! Please, give us a break. I'm a reporter from the Yanjing Evening News. We'll just go in and take a couple of shots, we definitely won't wander around!"

A female reporter in an outdoor jacket squeezed to the very front, desperately shoving her press badge against the glass of the guardhouse.

"No! School regulations state that without approval from the Publicity Department, no outside media is allowed to enter the campus!"

Security Captain Wang Jianguo was drenched in sweat, leading a dozen security guards with riot shields to hold the line firmly behind the gate. He felt like he wasn't facing a group of reporters, but a mob.

"Then could you please ask Student Zhao Yang to come out for an interview? Just five minutes, five minutes is enough!"

Another male reporter wearing glasses shouted loudly.

"Student Zhao is in class right now! He will not be accepting any private interviews at this time! The school will hold a unified press conference in the Grand Auditorium at 2:00 PM. All reporter friends, please go to the auditorium entrance to register and line up!"

A deputy director of the Beijing Forestry University Publicity Department spoke to everyone through a megaphone.

"Everyone, please observe interview discipline! Otherwise, we will blacklist you and the media outlets behind you! No cooperation whatsoever!"

PS: Could all the big shots still reading please give this book a five-star review! I'm begging you! This is very important to the author! Also, continuing to ask for free gifts! Thank you, thank you!