Mathematical Genius

Augus couldn't believe it. He took the papers and flipped through them. Six pages were filled to the brim. As he read, he glanced at Valentina. His pupils dilated in shock as he saw the clear and distinct answers at the end. For a moment, Augus was speechless, just staring blankly at Valentina. But his blood was boiling within. She did it. Countless teams had tried and failed, spending half a year wracking their brains and musing deeply about it. Even Paul couldn't solve it. Yet, his sister had solved it in less than half an hour. The solution process and the answer were now in his hands. His fingers that held the scratch paper even started to tremble slightly from the excitement. Valentina pinched Augus's handsome and pale face, her eyes filled with amusement. "Don't always have this reaction, or my heart will melt." Augus‘s mind buzzed, and even his neck flushed red. "Discussing this problem with you might be a bit difficult now. Wait until you go to college and then we'll talk about it," said Valentina. Looking at Valentina, who had solved the problem effortlessly and was sitting there relaxed, Augus wanted to say something but didn't utter a word. In the end, he quietly went back to his room with the scratch paper. Sitting at his desk, Augus flipped through the six papers back and forth. After a while, he took out his phone and captured each page clearly. Then, he logged onto the Math Forum of Biddeford University. The Math Forum of Biddeford University was bustling with mathematicians from all over the world every day. At that moment, a third-year student from the mathematics department of Biddeford University began to casually scroll through posts out of boredom. Soon. A fresh new post caught his attention. The post has no title, only six pictures. The pictures were of papers scrawled with mathematical symbols. Upon a closer look, they were in fact the solutions to that Math problem that countless geniuses had failed to solve. At first, he was hardly surprised; this particular problem was scrutinized and solved on a daily basis and a quick search would lead him to a multitude of related forum posts. He just clicked it casually. However, the more he looked, the more solemn his expression became. He clicked on the last picture; without checking the process, he straightly looked at the final answer. "Holy cow, it looks right.” Although every day some shared their pathetic solutions and ignited fierce discussions, with some even diligently posting solutions spanning tens of pages, this was the only one that immediately offered the complete solution and the answer. Without a second thought, he frantically mentioned Paul to see the post and then shared it in various groups for discussion. It quickly attracted attention. Gradually, more and more students from Biddeford University began to gather under the post. In just over ten minutes, the post shot to the top of the hot list, and more and more people clicked it. "Has this deadly problem finally been solved?” "After seeing so many experts share their calculation processes, it's the first time I've seen a complete process with a calculated answer. There is hope!" "I don't understand Math, but this looks damn impressive!" "Leaving correctness aside, the ability to write this much is already brilliant, right? Who did this?" "Forgive my lack of culture, all I can say is 'Wow!'" "This is AMAZING!" "Being entirely modest, even copying these symbols confounds me." "Isn't this solution approach similar to the one that Paul revealed earlier? Seems like it's definitely the correct answer." "Is this genius from our school? The homepage's personal information shows sixteen years old. Is that real? Please tell me it's not." "Quickly mention our adorable Principal and Paul. I can't wait to know the answer." "Another day of me just making up the numbers in the world, completely giving up." "Could Mr. Genius please say something?" "It looks like our Biddeford University is about to add either an excellent student or a brilliant teacher soon." "No, he can totally be the Vice Principal!" "Will someone who can solve this problem care about these?" As August was just using the time to calm his mind by solving a paper, when he clicked into the forum to see his post, it had received countless of comments. The comments below had already accumulated more than two thousand and were increasing at a terrifying speed. Every time the page was refreshed, there would be dozens more. Private messages were also up to a few hundred. It had only been about twenty minutes, and if the post were to attract Biddeford University's president or Paul, it would probably explode in popularity. Augus didn't expect to be discovered by everyone so quickly, and the reaction to be so enormous. It seems that everyone's enthusiasm for this problem never diminished. Biddeford University. Paul was deeply engrossed in his lab when the door was suddenly slammed open. An elderly professor barged in, surprisingly swift despite his age of over seventy. Paul furrowed his brow tightly at being disturbed, and a clear display of annoyance appeared on his handsome face. He was about to snap out, only to hear the old professor say, "Paul, take a break. The problem's solved!" Paul immediately lifted his head, the tiredness from staying awake for two straight days immediately vanished without a trace. "Solved?" There was no need to ask which question the old professor was talking about. "Yes, it's solved. Take a look." The old professor put his phone in front of Paul, an unmasked excitement and stir in his eyes. His old face full of wrinkles was feverishly red. Augus, no longer in the mood to study, was scrolling through the comments and looking at the words of admiration from the students of Biddeford University, uncontrollably excited inside as if he also had a share in these honors. "Now Val can be admitted to Biddeford University directly," Augus thought. He was about to show Valentina but his mother, Selena, called him to eat at that moment. It was then he realized that it was already dark outside. With no other choice, Augus leaves the forum, perfectly missing Paul's private message. At dinner, Augus had intended to tell the whole family in person that Valentina might be recommended for admission to Biddeford University, hoping to uplift his father's spirit while letting his mother and younger sister know that Valentina was not as bad as they thought she was. But before he even had a chance to say anything, his mother, Selena, knocked her plate with a fork. "When are you getting paid from your construction job? There are so many mouths to feed in this house. We're running low on food, and I can't support this many people on my salary of just over 400 dollars." George was also troubled by the delayed payment. "The foreman said he'll pay mid-month. I'll ask him again then." "Mid-month? What's the date today? Who knows, by then, mid-month might change to the end of the month?" After Selena finished speaking, she turned her gaze to Valentina. "Aren't you capable of earning money? We raised you, spent so much money on your education, and you eat and use from this household, now that you are skilled and capable of earning, could you not contribute to the family?" This was her real intention. George wanted to say something, but in the end, he looked at Valentina in silence. Valentina put down her plate and fork and said without lifting her head, "Bank account." Selena's eyes lit up, and she immediately whipped out her phone to display the QR code for payment with a beaming smile, "You can just scan here and transfer the money to me." Valentina pulled out her phone. Diana, who had been quietly eating, couldn't help but sneak a glance at the expensive phone in Valentina's hand. When the money was transferred, Selena lifted the phone to examine it, but her smile, upon seeing the amount, disappeared instantly. "How could it be only 400 dollars? Your phone cost one thousand dollars, not to mention your computer, new clothes, and new shoes, and you only gave 400 dollars to the family?" "It's for this month's food expenses for me and Augus." Valentina can't be bothered to say another word. Diana sneaked a glance at Augus. But Augus was actually looking at Valentina. "Living expenses? For two? Do you know how expensive groceries are now? 400 dollars is not enough for two people." Valentina raised her eyes and coldly looked at Selena. "Don't you know how many meals Augus and I have at home in a month? We rarely have meat or fish. Two plates of veggies, how expensive can they be?" After saying this, Valentina got up directly. She already didn't have an appetite for the two plates of wilted and tasteless vegetables on the table. After taking a few steps, she turned around and looked at Selena. "You're right. I have money, but even if I throw it away, I won't give it to you." Valentina wouldn't benefit from the few meals she has at the Ricardo family, and Selena couldn't hope to get more from her. These words directly made Selena furious. "You ungrateful girl." George hurriedly tried to stop her, but he couldn't. Selena's harsh and nasty face had not fully shown itself when she was directly silenced by a warning cold look from Valentina.