1025 The ICM Conference

But also, it was the most troublesome one.

No one would have imagined something like this to happen at the 45-minute report.

Moreover, this happened to Vera Pulyuy, the winner of the Fields Medal…

Helge Holden, Secretary-General of the International Mathematical Union, was annoyed at the money-hungry reporters.

“I had no idea something like this would happen… Dammit, why does it have to be her?”

His office door was opened, and Professor Fefferman walked in wearing a coat.

Professor Holden looked up and immediately spoke.

“How is Miss Vera Pulyuy doing?”

Professor Fefferman shook his head and said seriously, “Apparently, she woke up a few times, but the situation is not good. The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation invited several academician level experts from the best Moscow hospital, but when it comes to cancer… Especially terminal lung cancer, the diagnosis is nothing more than a death sentence. The Russians plan on transferring Miss Pulyuy to another hospital.”

“To another hospital? To where?”

“Apparently to Beijing.”

“China?” Holden paused for a second and said, “Is there a famous cancer treatment hospital in China? Is this going to be okay?”

“There isn’t a single hospital in the world that can treat terminal lung cancer, my friend.” Professor Fefferman sighed and said, “Even the Americans wouldn’t be able to do it. Therefore, it doesn’t matter where she goes, she’s going to receive the same level of treatment. Thus, it might be better to let her feel comfortable during her final days…”

It would be great if the cancer was detected early. But apparently, Vera was already diagnosed with terminal cancer a year ago when she first discovered it.

This was similar to many patients that suffered from this tragic disease.

However, she didn’t give up over the past year. She still did her work and lived each day with meaning and purpose, and this surprised Fefferman.

Accepting reality was not easy. It wasn’t uncommon to see someone committing suicide after receiving their death sentence.

Feffermen knew that he wouldn’t have been able to survive like Vera when he was younger.

If he knew that he only had a year to live, he might not choose to commit suicide, but he definitely wouldn’t be so optimistic and positive.

No matter how interesting mathematics was, and no matter how pa.s.sionate he was toward his career, he would try to experience something he had never done before, maybe something illegal…

But she didn’t do that.

Not just that, but the people around her barely noticed any changes about her as she continued to do her job.

He originally thought that she was just a shy and introverted girl.

But now, it seemed like she was much stronger and tenacious than he had thought.

Professor Holden’s eyebrows furrowed.

“What does that mean?”

Even though Professor Fefferman knew the history between Vera and Lu Zhou, he obviously wouldn’t tell Holden. So he shrugged and spoke.

“Nothing, I just think the view there is nice, she’ll feel better staying there. It’s not like we can send her back to Ukraine. Her middle-aged, divorced, alcoholic father is not going to take care of her.”

Professor Holden thought about her unfortunate family circ.u.mstances and sighed.

“If you say so…”

His a.s.sistant came in from the outside.

“Professor, the conference is ending in two days, and the Corinthia Hotel asked us how we plan on dealing with the scene at lecture hall seven.”

Professor Holden went silent for a while and said, “… Let them handle it.”

Actually, this wasn’t a criminal case, so there was no need to close off the scene.

The reason for doing this was because they didn’t want the gloomy mood of the lecture hall to affect the ongoing International Congress of Mathematicians. They wanted to reduce the damage as much as possible.

Now that the reports were over, it would be better to let the hotel handle it.

The a.s.sistant said, “Oh yeah, Professor, do you have the key?”

“Key?” Professor Holden paused for a second and said, “I never carry more than three keys, I think you have the key to lecture hall seven.”

The a.s.sistant realized something, and he spoke anxiously.

“Five days ago, Professor Lu came to find me, and he asked me to take him to lecture hall seven. After I took him there, he borrowed the key from me and said he would return the key to you later.”

“Professor Lu took the key from you? I don’t remember him giving it back to me.” Professor Holden frowned and stood up as he said, “Wait a second, I’ll go and check it out.”

Even though borrowing the key wasn’t a major issue, he still wanted to know what was going on.

Professor Fefferman saw Professor Holden walk out of the office door, so he quickly followed behind.

“I’ll go as well.”

Professor Fefferman and Professor Holden walked through the corridors and soon arrived at lecture hall seven. Professor Holden knocked on the door but realized the door was unlocked.

After hesitating for a bit, he reached out and opened the door.

The door quietly squeaked, followed by a rush of air.

Obviously, the person sitting inside had been here for a long time.

Professor Holden looked at Lu Zhou, who was sitting on the podium. He suddenly noticed the eight whiteboards on the stage.

Professor Fefferman noticed that as well.

He stared at the whiteboard in disbelief. He glanced at the conclusion line on the last whiteboard and gulped.

“You… proved it?”

“Sort of, even though it wasn’t as easy as Sir Atiyah said it would be, and I’m not sure how many people can understand it, but… I finally solved it, I am sure of it.”

Lu Zhou looked back at Professor Holden and Professor Fefferman, who were completely shocked.

“Also, can you guys bring me a sandwich?

“Actually, I’m kind of hungry, can you bring two?”