I’m Really a Superstar

Translator: Legge Editor: Legge

The netizens nearly pissed themselves laughing!

There were all kinds of bashing on Weibo!

"That Zhang Ye!"

"How could he still joke around at a setting like that?!"

"Pfft, how can he be so funny!"

"Hahahahaha, that shameless behavior is what I like most about him!"

"Aiyo, how amusing!"

"Teacher Zhang is such an oddball!"

"Yeah, if it were anyone else, who wouldn\'t speak mindfully on such an occasion? Who wouldn\'t get nervous and speak cautiously? But just look at him, he even dares talk that much bull in front of the whole world. Didn\'t he say the exact same thing at the press conference yesterday after the war between humans and machines! Weren\'t those words what he said about the Go world too? He really isn\'t afraid that the global mathematics world would get pissed and strip him of his title! I\'m already trembling just from hearing it! Only Zhang Ye could do something like this!"

"Hai, this isn\'t even anything serious!"

"It\'s not like Zhang Ye has not done anything more ridiculous than this before!"

"Haha, that\'s just how he is and I\'ve got used to it!"

"If Teacher Zhang were to start behaving seriously, then that would be too uninteresting!"

"I like him!"

"Teacher Zhang has brought glory to our country! So don\'t pick on him over such minor things!"

"When has a live broadcast involving Zhang Ye not ended up with him causing a big incident? When has he not scolded others? He did not even write a poem or scold anyone this time, so let\'s just be content. Teacher Zhang has toned it down a lot!"

"Pfft, I\'m actually unable to refute the previous poster!"

There were all kinds of reactions to the speech. But overall, everyone was able to accept what happened. If it were any other celebrity or mathematician who said something like that, they would definitely be cursed to death or get doubted by countless people. However, since it was Zhang Ye who did this, everyone realized that they had already gotten used to it and weren\'t the least bit surprised. Those who facepalmed or vomited blood due to what happened all ended up laughing at it in the end.

Half an hour.

An hour.

The live broadcast of the press conference had concluded.

The press conference was broadcast live across the country. At the same time, it was also relayed very quickly throughout Asia and the international scene!

For such huge news like Dale\'s Conjecture being proven by a Chinese mathematician, it was impossible that it would not get reported at the international level. There was only issue the issue of how much coverage each country would give to it!

Everyone dispersed.

Xin Ya pulled Zhang Ye aside as she rolled her eyes at him and said, "Can you be a little more mindful of that lousy mouth of yours?"

Zhang Ye was stunned. "Ah? What\'s the matter?"

Dean Pan also came up to him. "What do you think is the matter!"

Wang Yiming didn\'t know whether to laugh or cry. "We really have to give it you!"

"What about me?" Zhang Ye was confused.

Xin Ya stared at him and said, "Didn\'t you realize that when you answered the first reporter\'s question, your answer sounded somewhat familiar? Huh?"

When Zhang Ye thought about it, it dawned on him. "Yes, yes, it really does feel a little familiar!"

Han Henian gave a wry smile and reminded him. "At the Go press conference yesterday... "

Only then did Zhang Ye realize it. He facepalmed and exclaimed, "Aiya, I think I already used that speech yesterday. Heh, no wonder it felt so familiar. I was wondering why I was speaking so fluidly!" He really did not do it on purpose. This fellow had been too busy recently and everything was coming together at once. With so many reporters questioning and interviewing him, he would even sometimes forget what he had just answered with. "Hai, great wits have short memories!"

"Pfft!"

"Who would refer to themselves as a great wit?"

"Never mind, it\'s already been broadcast. Let\'s just leave it as is."

"Yeah, your reputation stinks anyway, so no one will care."

Many of the local mathematicians present started talking about this among themselves.

Zhang Ye could not keep listening and cleared his throat. "Why would my reputation stink? That reporter asked me if I was a hero. Surely, I can\'t say that I am one and ask them to quickly kowtow to me, right?"

Everyone laughed in derision!

Who would want to kowtow to you!

Dean Pan laughed and said, "Alright, stop with the bantering already, Professor Zhang. I still have some proper business that I need to speak to you about."

"What is it?" Zhang Ye asked.

Dean Pan gave a hearty laugh. "It\'s about something good!"

Zhang Ye nodded and said, "If it\'s something good, I\'m all ears."

Dean Pan said, "Alright then, come with me."

After everyone else left, Dean Pan and some heads of the Math Department headed back to their faculty. They went into someone\'s office where Pan Yang looked around in a drawer before taking something out of it. Then he handed a document to Zhang Ye and said with a smile, "Have a look at this."

When Zhang Ye took a look, he was startled. "An application for a promotion to professor?"

Dean Pan nodded. "That\'s right."

This professorship was unlike the previous professorship!

Zhang Ye was already an associate professor in Peking University\'s Math Department. But this application was a recommendation to promote Zhang Ye to a full professorship in the Math Department. There really was a big difference between being an associate professor and a full professor. Be it the pay, qualification, or status in the profession, these two positions couldn\'t be lumped together. Furthermore, this was a full professorship at the Math Department of Peking University. How many full professors were there in the entire School of Mathematical Sciences? There was practically none who were younger than 45!

Zhang Ye was feeling a little embarrassed. "Hey, is this appropriate?"

Dean Pan said, "If you think you\'re ready, I\'ll submit the application. I\'m not sure if it\'ll get approved, but this was unanimously decided by us at the School of Mathematical Sciences after we had a meeting."

Zhang Ye smiled and said, "My associate professorship at that time was also a one-off exception, wasn\'t it? I\'ve only assumed that position for a year, but I\'m up for another promotion to full professor? Won\'t the others gossip about this? I\'m only 25 years old. Which university has a 25-year-old associate professor in their ranks? Not to mention a 25-year-old full professor at Peking University?"

Dean Pan simply said, "If you think that it\'s not appropriate, let\'s just drop it."

"Don\'t! Don\'t mind me!" Zhang Ye panicked. "Old Pan, since you\'ve already brought out the application form, how can you just take it back like this? Submit it, of course you must submit it! Would I be afraid of people gossiping about this? If I was bothered about people talking bad about me, I would have died 200 times in the past few years!" This statement was actually quite true.

Old Pan?

Dean Pan rolled his eyes!

Zhang Ye joyfully said, "Then it\'s set!"

Dean Pan said, "We still have to see if the higher-ups agree to it or not."

"You are such a reputable person, so how won\'t the heads of the school agree to it?" Zhang Ye felt that Old Pan was quite loyal, and would think of him if something good came up. The title of a full professor was going to be more practical and useful than anything else!

…

Later that afternoon.

At Zhang Ye\'s parents\' house.

The moment he reached home, his mother stopped him and chided him!

She even wished she could pull him by the ear. "Why weren\'t you more mindful of your words at such an important occasion? You can even copy your own thank you speech? Are you intending to drive me to my grave?"

Zhang Ye said, "It just slipped my mind, alright?"

His mother pointed at the computer. "Look at the people online. They\'re all ridiculing you, and several experts have already criticized your actions. They said that your attitude toward academia is not correct and that you were just fooling around!"

Zhang Ye smiled and shrugged. "I have so many enemies. If I don\'t get criticized by eighty to a hundred people each day, I might even think that the sun rose from the west. If they want to criticize me, then just let them do it. Why should we care about them? By the way, Mom, Dad." He looked at his parents and announced to them, "They\'re looking to promote me to a full professor at Peking University!"

His parents exclaimed in astonishment!

His father said excitedly, "Has it been confirmed yet?"

His mother stared and her jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"

Zhang Ye smiled and said, "Yes, but it hasn\'t been given yet. I assume that there shouldn\'t be any problems."

His mother said anxiously, "Don\'t assume things like that! This is an important matter, so has it been confirmed or not yet? Don\'t make me and your dad happy for nothing!"

"I\'m quite certain it\'ll be given," Zhang Ye said.

His mother instantly beamed with pride. "Good! Good! That\'s great! I must quickly tell your grandpa and grandma about it!" As she spoke, she went over to the telephone and picked it up and made a call. "Hello, Mom…ai…have you seen the news? That\'s right. The conjecture has been proven. Little Ye is now a preeminent international mathematician. Also, inform Dad and the others that Little Ye is going to get promoted to full professor at Peking University….It\'s true! Why would I lie to you!"

In the media, there were already some news reports that were gathered from the grapevine!

Over here in China, no news could stay hidden for long. Everything was linked and the complex web of relationships was just too intertwined. There would always be some people who were just very well-informed about things!

At 5 o\'clock in the afternoon!

Peking University finally made a public announcement. "Zhang Ye has been appointed as a full professor at Peking University\'s School of Mathematical Sciences!"

But to everyone\'s surprise, that was not the end of it!

Peking University: "Zhang Ye has been appointed as an associate professor at Peking University\'s Chinese Department!"

After being part of the Chinese Department for two years, he had also been promoted to an associate professor from his lecturer role?

A full professor of the Math Department?

An associate professor at the Chinese Department?

He had now become Peking University\'s only dual department professor?