117: Chapter 117 Shift in Wind

In the days while everyone in the laboratory prepared to perform surgery on the monkey.

The center of the internet storm gradually and eerily shifted.

The heat of the debate surrounding the prosthetic limb project itself diminished slightly; in its place was a near-pathological frenzy of inquiry sweeping across major platforms.

Everyone's gaze was locked tightly onto that mysterious project lead.

It was as if one could easily grasp traffic just by touching upon this topic.

However, the three characters "Chen Youhua" seemed as if they had been placed under a curse.

In any post, video, or comment section, if these three characters were typed out completely, the result was instant deletion at best, and the disappearance of both the account and the post at worst.

The strictness of the platform's censorship was enough to make one's scalp tingle.

But this could not stump the linguistic artists of the internet who were most adept at surviving in the cracks.

Various abstract, distorted, and witty nicknames sprouted like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, flooding comment sections, barrage screens, and trending topics, forming a unique, encrypted landscape that only insiders could tacitly understand.

"Optimization": taking the homophone of his name, simple and direct.

"Father of the Qilin Arm": directly relating to the project results, clear in its direction while carrying a hint of mockery.

"Mysterious C": chuunibyou-style Japanese manga aesthetic, maximizing the sense of mystery.

"The 404 Himself": pointing directly to the "unspeakable" nature of his name online.

Centered around these aliases, the discussion on the internet presented a near-magical sense of fragmentation.

A hot post on Zhihu: 【Rational discussion, who exactly is "Optimization"? Why has the entire internet fallen silent?】

Comment 1: "Bold! Haven't you seen that the internet detectives who usually love to doxx and investigate personal histories are all playing dead this time? Brother, protecting your account is what matters."

Comment 2: "Just climbed the wall back from outside, I know everything! But heaven's secrets must not be leaked! When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, you all will naturally know! (Manual dog head emoji)"

Reply to Comment 2: "Laugh to death, just because you went outside the wall you think you're superior? Knowing some inside info and feeling uncomfortable holding it in, huh? If you have the guts, say it! Stop acting like a pretentious big shot!"

Comment 3 (Information Engineering major): "Heh, this is why we brothers in Information Engineering are collectively silent. Dude, published in a top SCI journal as a freshman, groundbreaking theory, no references! And then? Instantly no record of this person online! Think about it, family, some existences really aren't things keyboard warriors can mess with."

Reply to Comment 3: "Wuwuwu, finally someone understands me! During graduation job hunting, I had technical interviews at ten companies, and eight of them asked for my understanding of that paper! Please! It's full of mathematical symbols that look like heavenly books! If I could understand it, would I still be here job hunting?"

Reply to Reply: "You know it's serious because no university has dared to open a special course to teach that paper. Unless the man himself comes out of seclusion, future generations can only look up to it, at most understanding a little bit."

Comment 4 (Passerby A): "Wait, what kind of riddles are you all speaking in? I don't understand at all! We are discussing the origin of the prosthetic limb project lead, are you in the wrong place?"

Reply to Comment 4: "Identification complete, a Muggle (not derogatory), just relax and eat your melon."

Comment 5: "Wuwuwu, please don't derail the thread! I have a cousin who had her legs amputated in a car accident during college, and now she shuts herself in her room all day; the doctor says it's severe depression... Seeing this project, I really... even if there's only a glimmer of hope... I hope the project by the optimization big shot succeeds, please save my cousin!"

Reply to Comment 5: "Hugs, sister, I hope the project succeeds!"

Reply to Comment 5: "What's there to be depressed about? The thing has already happened, just face reality and live your life well!"

Reply to Reply: "The person above is really standing and talking without back pain! I hope you can be this optimistic if something happens to you!"

Comment 6: "Limited time benefit! DM me quickly if you see this comment! Transfer 300 and get 888 back immediately! Limited spots! First come, first served!"

Reply to Comment 6: "The person above is a piece of trash! Get lost!"

Comment 7: "Wait, I'm confused! You've been talking for ages, hasn't anyone given a straight answer? Who exactly is it?"

Reply to Comment 7: "His name is Chen Youhua... Go to Wangzhi (academic search platform) and search his name yourself... look at that paper and you'll know..."

Reply to Reply: "It's over! The brother above lost his account! The post is going to sink! Goodbye for now, brothers!"

Comment 8: "Everyone don't panic! It seems like they are only deleting comments and not nuking posts now! Eat melon rationally! This is a true big shot! The project he personally handles definitely has a high success rate! Don't be fooled by those trying to steer the narrative!"

In the corners of the internet, there are always some stubborn cyber-archaeologists.

They flipped through layers upon layers of cleaned-up traces, and in the depths of academic databases, in cached snapshots of technical forums from years ago, and in mirrors of long-closed personal blogs, they pieced together the sporadic yet shocking information behind the name Chen Youhua.

These fragments were like stones thrown into a deep pool; although the ripples were quickly submerged by more surging traffic, the reverence for this academic god was quietly spreading.

The voices questioning the project were gradually diluted and submerged under the impact of this fanatical inquiry into Chen Youhua and the sporadically exposed information that inspired awe.

Although there were still sporadic accounts clearly carrying out a task trying to steer the narrative, they would soon be washed away without a trace by the surging torrent of comments like "seeking popular science," "waiting for the big shot," "trusting the big shot," and "praying for my cousin."

And the person at the center of the storm, the "Mysterious C," the "Father of the Qilin Arm," and "Optimization" himself.

Chen Youhua was immersed in a world completely isolated from the noise of the internet.

Chen Youhua was slightly hunched over, the tip of the pen in his hand hovering above the last sheet of manuscript paper, not falling for a long time.

His gaze was as deep as the end of the universe, all light converging inward, tightly locked onto those few lines of critical core equations on the manuscript paper.

Fine beads of sweat seeping from his temples refracted tiny spots of light under the lamp.

That mystery of turbulence that had plagued the top intelligence of humanity for a century.

The existence and smoothness problem of the Navier-Stokes Equation.

The outline of its final proof had already unfolded with absolute clarity in his mind.

The final step, like the last leap across an abyss, was within reach, yet it condensed an immense weight.

He was completely unaware of the monstrous waves rising in the outside world because of him, or the clamor and speculation on the internet regarding "Youhuachen" and "Chen Youhua".

His entire world was concentrated in this small space before his eyes, composed of mathematical symbols, leading to the other shore of truth.

The pen tip finally fell.