Chapter 24: Math Won’t Lie to Me

In the next thirty minutes, the people of Earth delivered a master class on “time” to the audience of the Interstellar Federation.

The Galaxy Village team, true disciples of Earth, not only withstood the overwhelming assault from their “teachers,” but nearly managed to bury those teachers completely in a decisive team fight.

Had it not been for Gu Qingyun’s lightning-fast insight into the opposing team’s intentions and her immediate tactical adjustment, the Earth team might truly have met their end right then and there.

Those breathtaking thirty minutes allowed every long-lived species to viscerally experience the terror of being chased by time. It turned out that a single moment’s hesitation, a single breath’s delay, could decide the direction of life and death.

In the endless river of time that the long-lived species inhabited, they now realized that not all time flowed evenly and peacefully. Earthlings, with their skill and willpower, had stretched the concept of “ephemerality” into a storm that could shake the heavens.

This was the short-lived species’ audacious challenge to “transience”—and their perfect interpretation of what it means to “exist.”

·

The instant the match ended, virtual screens began popping up one after another throughout the arena, joining together to form a massive spherical holographic projection. The deep blue data streams symbolizing the Supreme Intelligence flowed in dazzling patterns, finally freezing in place.

[Event ID: First “Federation Cup” Interstellar Open · Grand Finals

Supervisory Body: Interstellar Federation Supreme Intelligence

Judgment Basis: “Federation Cup Competition Charter” and related supplementary agreements

Judgment Output: At ST 2027-483:089:022, after uninterrupted logic monitoring throughout, the championship logic chain for the final round has closed. The winner is: Galactic Alliance · Earth Autonomous Star · “Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner” Team.

Status Update: This event’s monitoring program has concluded. The objection window is now open according to agreement.

Note: Objections must be submitted in accordance with the “Interstellar Federation Cross-Civilization Competition Dispute Review General Procedure.” Standard review period: 2 interstellar standard working days.]

After the Supreme Intelligence finished its announcement, the arena returned to its previous state.

Faced with an audience stunned into silence by the Supreme Intelligence’s authority, the host, undiminished in enthusiasm, shouted, “Let’s welcome our champion team—Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner—to the stage to receive their award!!!!”

The joy of victory washed away all reverence for the Supreme Intelligence, and the crowd erupted in wild cheers, welcoming the champions.

The six members of the Earth team rose on the stage’s platform, slowly appearing before the audience.

They waved joyfully to the crowd as golden confetti rained down, filling the arena in that moment.

Captain Gu Qingyun lifted the trophy, the rest of the team gathering around her. This scene became a precious record, forever frozen in the history of the “Federation Cup.”

·

The spectacular “Federation Cup” had come to an end. With it, Youjian Entertainment had perfectly fulfilled all its missions. In the quest to raise Earth’s civilization approval rating, it had done everything possible.

At the same time, Youjian Entertainment also ushered in a large-scale employee vacation, giving time for these cultural projects to settle and ferment.

As the time for the civilization approval rating update drew near, discussion about Earth reached new historic heights on the StarNet.

Seeing such positive data feedback, Earth’s attention once again focused on the civilization approval rating.

Earthlings unconsciously began using Interstellar Standard Time, counting down the days until the rating update.

After everything Earth had accomplished this year, surely the rating would rise, even if only a little. No one expected a huge leap, but at the very least, some movement would give future cultural exports a vague sense of direction.

This was the common hope of all Earthlings.

·

Wang Pei had been holed up in the Youjian Entertainment Data Center for days on end, never leaving. Anyone who saw him now would have been startled by his appearance.

His face was deathly pale, dark circles heavy under his eyes, his hair disheveled and greasy, a thick beard growing around his mouth—clearly, he hadn’t cared for himself or rested in a long time.

If not for the smart steward ensuring he ate three meals a day, Wang Pei’s condition might have been even worse.

The AI continued to run the calculations Wang Pei had assigned it. When the results once again appeared on his work terminal, he cried out in fright and shut down the virtual screen.

“No… it can’t be… it can’t be…” Wang Pei muttered, his eyes vacant. “I must have made a mistake… yes… I must have made a mistake… The Supreme Intelligence is the most powerful AI… yes, that’s how it is…”

After a round of self-consolation, Wang Pei suddenly clutched his head and fell into another bout of frenzied self-doubt.

“No, that’s not it… Mathematics doesn’t lie… My eyes can deceive me, my ears can deceive me, my brain can deceive me… but mathematics doesn’t… mathematics doesn’t lie… I’m not wrong… I’m not wrong…”

Wang Pei slowly crouched down, burying his head between his knees, and began to sob.

“…What am I supposed to do…”

·

A warm hand settled on Wang Pei’s head, gently ruffling his hair in a comforting gesture. A familiar voice sounded beside his ear: “Professor Wang, Wang Pei, did something upset you?”

Wang Pei stiffly looked up, tears still on his face.

“Chang… Yu…?”

Seeing Wang Pei’s haggard state, Chang Yu’s expression changed. He pulled Wang Pei up from the floor, examined him carefully, and, seeing nothing physically wrong, asked, “How did you end up like this?”

Wang Pei hung his head, silent.

Chang Yu didn’t press further, simply leading him to the data center’s lounge. Sometimes Wang Pei didn’t go home, spending the night here instead, so there were always clean clothes and toiletries at hand.

“No matter what’s happened, your health is your foundation. Take a shower, shave, eat something, and then tell me what’s going on.” Chang Yu issued a series of instructions, and Wang Pei obeyed each one without resistance.

When Wang Pei finally reappeared before Chang Yu, looking much fresher apart from the still-dark circles under his eyes, even his pale face had a bit of color.

Chang Yu placed a steaming bowl of appetizing congee in front of him. Wang Pei inhaled the aroma, and his stomach growled for the first time in ages.

He realized he hadn’t felt hunger in a long time. Picking up the spoon, Wang Pei slowly finished the entire bowl.

Chang Yu sat across from him, and seeing Wang Pei’s lingering appetite, finally allowed himself a small smile.

“Wang Pei, can you tell me what happened now?”

·

Wang Pei’s body tensed up again. His breathing grew rapid. Head lowered, he mechanically stirred the empty bowl with his spoon, the sound striking the bottom in a steady rhythm.

Chang Yu didn’t rush him; when it came to Wang Pei, he was prepared to be infinitely patient.

Wang Pei finally stopped moving, burying his head even lower, but managed to speak with difficulty.

“I… I used the AI… to calculate something…”

“Mm.” Chang Yu responded softly.

“We… we… we… might have been deceived…” Wang Pei’s voice was thick with tears.

Chang Yu didn’t touch him this time, but pressed on, “Who deceived us? About what?”

Wang Pei drew a shaky breath, sobbing harder.

“They… they’re fake… Mathematics… mathematics doesn’t lie…”

Sensing Wang Pei was on the verge of another breakdown, Chang Yu got up and moved to his side, gripping his shoulders. “Wang Pei, if you can’t say it, then use your terminal to tell me—just like we always do.”

A spark of light returned to Wang Pei’s vacant eyes. “…Okay… the terminal… I’ll send you all the results…”

Seeing Wang Pei a bit steadier, Chang Yu released him. “I’ll step out and close the door. Send me everything you need to say, then go to sleep. Leave the rest to me, all right?”

“All right… all right…” Wang Pei’s eyes regained some clarity. Clearly, this was the best suggestion for him.

Chang Yu left the lounge and closed the door.

After a while, his terminal chimed—the files had arrived.

Chang Yu opened them one by one. When he finished reading, a cold, murderous light flashed in his eyes.

“Interstellar Federation…”