early morning.

Lu Zhou is sitting in the cafeteria of the Corinthia Hotel, enjoying bread and coffee, logging in to the mailbox to check unread mail, and logging on arxiv to view several numbers, algebraic geometry, differential manifolds, etc. Marked the latest research results in the direction of tracking.

These days, the entire mathematics community is very quiet, and no particularly interesting news is released. In professional academic forums such as mathoverfolw, most of the discussion is not an academic issue, but instead it is a gossip about the mathematics world.

Even if not everyone has received an invitation from the imu conference, almost all mathematicians are watching the world event that will open in St. Petersburg.

Just as Lu Zhou was browsing a post about the Fields Prize prediction vote, a Russian big man with a sunglasses on his neckline sat across from him and whistled.

“Can you trouble staying in the hotel as much as possible today?”

From the computer screen, the line of sight was turned away, and Lu Zhou cast his sight on him.

"What happened?"

"If you have to say something, there are some problems." Remove the sunglasses from the neckline and wipe it with a pair of glasses. Massim said in a chattering voice. "Someone invaded the grid system in St. Petersburg and inserted it inside." A few dirty code. And according to our National Security Intelligence Office analysis, this may be a premeditated action."

Lu Zhou said without words: "... can this be unpredicted?"

"You didn't understand what I meant," lifted his gaze and looked at Lu Zhou. Masim smiled and said, "I mean, this may be a premeditated murder against you."

The atmosphere on the table was frozen.

It was as if it was a silence, and it was quiet.

This is probably the first time.

His life is safe and truly threatened.

The throat was slightly dry, and the boat lifted the coffee cup and took a sip.

After three seconds of restoring calm, he put the coffee cup down and calmly said.

"...To be honest, this is a little far-fetched. It’s just that the failure of the nuclear power plant is linked to murder, which is still a little too far-fetched."

Blow up a nuclear power plant to deal with him...

Next to the Helios nuclear power plant is St. Petersburg, Russia's second largest city. Even if the controllable fusion technology is clean and safe, it is also a nuclear word.

If things are revealed, this is probably not the simple question of regional disputes.

Even if it is slipping to the edge of war, Lu Zhou will not be surprised.

"The possibility of more than 80%, at least we think that compared with the Helios fusion power station, the strategic value of someone is obviously more important, and it can also successfully destroy the friendly relationship between us and our neighbors. After all, if you are really Russia is in trouble, it is not a sentence, 'We are deeply sorry,' I can just send it off."

Wearing the cleaned sunglasses on the bridge of the nose, Massim raised his eyebrows at Lu Zhou and pushed the chair to stand up.

Through the sunglasses, he stared at Lu Zhou with a serious eye and continued.

"In short, the current situation is that some people intend to be against you, we are not sure if they still have a 'b plan' after the 'a plan' failure, so in order to avoid accidents, I hope you can try to move the scope of activities. Controlled in this hotel. Here we have 100% confidence to keep you safe, and if you are too far away from here, this number may be only 90% or even 80%."

"I know," Lu Zhou nodded, his eyes moving away from Masim's face and continuing to look at the computer screen. "Although I don't know who can see me, I will try to control the scope of the activity at the hotel." inner."

Originally, he did not plan to wander around outside during the imu conference.

Since someone is eyeing him, it is better to be cautious.

"The basic situation is like this. After a while, I still have an important thing to deal with. I will not stay here. I wish you a happy day."

After a goodbye gesture, Massim smiled and walked to the entrance of the cafeteria.

However, just past the land boat seat, he suddenly glanced around, so he carefully lowered his body and whispered.

"...the place where there are a lot of good girls, I am afraid I will take you there again next time."

Hearing this sudden sound, Lu Zhou, who just took a sip of coffee, almost didn't get caught.

Dry cough and put down the cup, Lu Zhou took a paper towel and wiped his mouth, said with a black face.

"……No, thanks."

"Haha, don't be shy, my friend. Besides science, there are many other things worth living in. If it is not because of this accident, I really want to take you to see and see, but... still next time. Let me talk about it again."

Massim smiled and smacked his shoulder, then swayed away.

The news of the delay in the Helios fusion reactor ignition plan did not affect the tranquility of the city of St. Petersburg. Even the authoritative newspaper, which is the official mouthpiece of Pravda, only mentions the position on the last page, because the imu conference, scholars from various countries, and so on, have been scheduled for various reasons. The ignition plan started at the beginning of the month will be delayed by one week.

However, even with the delay of this ignition plan, the Russian official has only taken an understatement. However, many people with a keen sense of political sensation can still smell a trace of unusual taste from a series of clues such as "the president of the three countries visiting the Baltic Sea returning home early" and "the manager of the unified power company St. Petersburg branch was arrested for taking bribes". .

It’s like an invisible storm, brewing in the sky above St. Petersburg and even the entire Russian power system...

On the afternoon of Maxim’s departure from the Corinthia Hotel, scholars from all over the world began to intensively arrive at this five-star hotel that has almost been vacated for the International Congress of Mathematicians.

In fact, as early as yesterday, many people have already arrived here.

For example, Lu Zhou’s mentor at Princeton, Professor Delière, and Professor Fefferman, who had worked with him on the ns equation, and Far, who is said to be planning a big news before retirement. Professor Tins.

And this, Lu Zhou was also known at breakfast.

However, compared with the old friends such as Deligne and Professor Fefferman, the emotions of Lu Zhou have obviously fluctuated, and the figure standing in the hotel lobby with the suitcase.

Satin-like blonde hair bundled into a slender ponytail in the back of the head. Under the white long skirt, it was as dazzling as the floating light on the snow in winter. The lines of the delicate shoulders and body contours looked a little richer than four years ago, but I don’t know why, the feeling of being unreliable is more interesting than it was four years ago.

I was coming out of the cafeteria and passing through the lobby to the elevator, and I recognized her at a glance.

It seems that he is feeling his sight, and Vera, standing in the middle of the hotel lobby with her suitcase, also saw the familiar figure from the crowd.

"professor……"

Shouted aloud, the sapphire-like pupil instantly wrote a surprise and surprise.

The right hand released the handle of the trunk towbar, leaving her suitcase in the same place as she ran to the direction of the boat.

According to the principle of inertia in Newtonian mechanics, if she does not slow down and continue to move forward at this time, the next action will probably be full of collision with the boat.

However, this kind of extravagant action is really over-stimulated for a young girl.

Under the influence of a series of physiological effects such as shame and tension, as her distance from the boat is getting closer, the pace of flying is still as slow as the lead.

Standing in front of Lu Zhou, I don’t know if it was because of running or because of the flushing of Vera on the cheek, and reached out and quickly flattened the hair in front of the forehead, and the expression was awkward.

"……long time no see."

"It hasn't been seen for a long time," looked at the familiar face. Lu Zhou's face showed a smile. "Your body is okay?"

"Well... I'm fine, don't worry about me."

Although I got a positive answer, I don’t know why I suddenly evaded my eyes, but it made Lu Zhou unable to let go.

Just as Lu Zhou was preparing to ask questions, the sound of high heels stepping on the granite floor came from the side.

"You are more worried about this."

The two men looked at each other in the same direction. They saw Molina, who had her hand on her suitcase, and picked up Vera’s suitcase, and had already walked to the side of the two.

Because I saw it in Jinling last year, compared to Vera, Molina’s feelings for Lu Zhou are not very big.

To say that there is only one change, it is probably the long windbreaker that is warm and cold, replaced by a gray-green short coat.

The slightly boyish short hair, combined with the striped white shirt and khaki long trousers, gives the impression of being in the streets of Paris in the last century.

When I heard Molina’s words, Vera slightly hesitated and whispered.

"Hey? Is there?"

"I think if you have any problems, it is better to say it. Someone is notoriously short, and you are his baby apprentice. He can definitely find a way to help you solve it."

"No, I am really fine... please don't worry about me."

It seems that I felt the pressure from Molina’s questioning. Vera whispered a thank-you from the handle of her suitcase, and then walked in the direction of the elevator with her suitcase. Forgot to say goodbye to Lu Zhou.

Looking at Vera's back to the elevator, Lu Zhou pulled the next Molina, and asked in a serious tone.

"Are you not her teammate? Do you know anything about her?"

"Obviously, my teammates didn't fully open up to me, let alone know, without her permission, do you think I will tell you the privacy of a lady?"

Looking at Lu Zhou's eyes, Molina pulled her sleeve back and hugged the suitcase and chased it in the direction of the elevator.

The expression looked at the direction of the elevator intricately, and Lu Zhou fell silent.

At this time, another familiar voice with a bit of joy, suddenly passed from the side.

"professor!"

Attracted by this voice, Lu Zhou immediately turned his head and saw a young man with a dark complexion and curly hair. He was holding the arm of a Latino beauty with a deep skin and a long curly hair. , greet him with enthusiasm with his empty right hand.

Seeing Lu Zhou did not seem to respond, this guy seems to be afraid that he will forget to continue to shout.

"Hey, Professor! I am Hardy! You shouldn't forget me?"

"Of course I know it is you, just need a little time to digest this huge information..."

The line of sight drifted back and forth between Hardy and the beautiful woman who greeted him next to him. Lu Zhou opened his mouth and spoke a sentence after a long time. "You are all... are you married?"

With a hearty smile and a neat white tooth on his face, Hardy was embarrassed to touch the back of his head and said with a smile. "Of course! How can I say that I have graduated from the doctor for so many years, and I am not too young, not to mention now. They are already professors. It’s too pitiful to get married again."

Lu Zhou: "..."

This guy, as always, is always as good as ever. He always likes to add a superfluous sentence after a sentence that has nothing to worry about.

Sure enough, he should not be allowed to graduate so early.

It seems that he was aware of the badness in Lu Zhou’s eyes. After Hardy had a few guilty consciences, he walked with his newly married wife in the direction of the elevator.

According to him, they were married two months ago, and this time in St. Petersburg, in addition to attending the imu conference, another thing is to honeymoon.

The reason why I chose to arrange the honeymoon trip and the imu conference is because if I apply to the school in the name of participating in the imu conference, the school will not only allow paid vacations and reimbursement of the tolls, but also give them a certain amount of difference. Brigade subsidy...

After attending the imu conference, they will fly to Italy and Greece in the name of the transfer.

Of all the people I know about Lu Zhou, it seems that only Hadi can do this kind of harassment...

In addition to Hardy, Lu Zhou also met Qin Yue in the lobby of the hotel.

Compared to four years ago, this young man’s change can be said to be from the inside out and overwhelming.

I remember when I first came to Princeton, this young man was still a very old man. Now he is not only waiting for people to talk or talking, but also gives people a very reliable feeling.

Seeing that my students are getting better and better, Lu Zhou’s heart is naturally quite happy.

The only thing that made him a little lost is that Vera still refuses to confess to her, what is the condition of her body...

I hope that, as she said, it is not a big problem.

But Lu Zhou always felt that things were not as simple as he thought...

.