Chapter 516 - 530: A Difficult Problem

After eating their fill at the hotel, everyone decided to return to their rooms to rest.

An Ning went upstairs with the others, but just as everyone was heading off to rest, she called Jiang Xia aside. The two of them found a spot in the hotel’s open-air garden and ordered two cups of coffee.

"Have a taste?"

Jiang Xia raised his cup and took a small, gentle sip. An Ning stared at the coffee, the color of a bitter herbal tonic, and asked, confused, "Why would anyone drink this?"

"Maybe they like the bitterness. But you can add sugar and milk, which makes it much better."

As he spoke, Jiang Xia opened a nearby jar of sugar cubes, ready to add some to An Ning’s cup.

"Let me try it first."

An Ning lifted her coffee cup and took a sip. A pained expression twisted her face, and she grimaced.

"So bitter."

"Americanos are like that. I don’t like them either."

An Ning set her cup down, letting Jiang Xia add sugar and milk. When she took another sip, she pursed her lips. It was alright, but she wasn’t a fan.

They both set down their coffee cups and leaned back, letting their bodies relax into the chairs.

"Where do you think Tao Quan’s injuries came from?"

"From what I can tell, many of them are old wounds. A lot of the scars are in places someone couldn’t reach if they were self-inflicted. So, I don’t know."

Jiang Xia’s analysis matched An Ning’s own thoughts.

"I think I have an idea why he abuses small animals."

She still found it repulsive, of course, but she was beginning to understand a little.

"Everyone goes through different things in life. Some face more hardships than others, but that’s no excuse to let yourself become a bad person."

An Ning tilted her head and looked at Jiang Xia. "You’re right. But if I went through something like that, I can’t guarantee what I’d be capable of."

"Same here."

After Jiang Xia replied, he thought to himself, ’If I hadn’t met An Ning, things between me, the Xiao Family, and Jiang Dongcheng probably wouldn’t have ended well. I don’t even know what kind of person I would have become.’

An Ning tilted her head back, her gaze unfocused.

"When we get back, I’m going to look into Tao Quan’s situation myself. It’s not for any particular reason; I just want an answer. I don’t like leaving things unresolved."

"Let me know if you need help."

"I will."

After their chat, they both returned to their hotel rooms to rest.

Around noon, the first round of the competition concluded. Twelve teams advanced, including the Huaxia Team.

The twelve teams would compete in the next round tomorrow to determine the six teams advancing to the finals.

Aside from mealtimes, the members of the Huaxia Team all rested in their rooms. As for going out to explore and experience the local culture, everyone agreed it wasn’t necessary.

The next day, the Huaxia Team arrived at the competition venue, full of energy. This time, their appearance drew a great deal of attention.

The other teams watched them, their gazes scrutinizing.

"Hey, your lucky streak ends here!"

A player from another country blocked the Huaxia Team’s path, delivering the line with a contemptuous glare.

Clearly, they believed the Huaxia Team hadn’t won honorably—it was just dumb luck.

As team leader, and someone who never lost a war of words, Jiang Xia smiled politely. "Funny you should say that. I just did a quick calculation, and it looks like your team’s luck is about to run out."

"By the way, losers always make excuses for themselves. Yours is a pretty good one!"

"You—"

"I’m right here. Did you need something?"

The ever-so-polite Jiang Xia watched the other guy storm off in a huff. He shrugged, looking a little disappointed. "His math skills are average, and his comeback game is even weaker. Not much of a challenge."

The members of the Huaxia Team all bobbed their heads in unison like a flock of ducks, agreeing with Jiang Xia.

They couldn’t help it. An Ning had given them the ultimate confidence.

And it was a confidence that was entirely justified.

If you were in their shoes, wouldn’t you be arrogant too?

The twelve teams took their seats, the judges settled in, and the host walked onto the stage.

"Today’s competition will once again be problem-solving. However, you may only begin after the starting bell rings."

The host glanced at the Huaxia Team and was taken aback by their nonchalant, ’we’re the best and we know it’ attitude.

What could have caused a team’s entire demeanor to change so drastically?

"Today, there are a total of three problems, including one famous mathematical challenge. You will have five hours. As before, the team that solves the problems wins. In the case of incomplete answers, the team with the most comprehensive steps will be declared the winner."

"The clock... starts now."

Three whiteboards were rolled out. The first two problems were the real key to the competition; the last one was a famous unsolved problem, mostly there to fill out the set.

Of course, teams could also try to solve part of it and win based on their methodology.

The SCRITCH SCRATCH of pencils, the hushed whispers of discussion, the coordinated efforts of calculation and deduction—this scene played out among every team.

The only exception, it seemed, was the Huaxia Team.

"I’ll sharpen your pencil."

"I’ll hand you the paper."

"I’ll blow the graphite dust away."

"I’ll pour you some water."

Each member voluntarily took on a task, all revolving around the central figure: An Ning. She sat calmly, pencil in hand, and began to write.

Once she started, she wouldn’t stop, which made the pencil-sharpening duty absolutely essential.

A sheet of paper was quickly filled. The person next to her swiftly blew away the graphite dust while another seamlessly swapped in a fresh sheet.

Their coordination was flawless, like a well-oiled factory assembly line—only this one was dedicated to solving math problems.

An Ning didn’t have to worry about a thing; she just needed to focus completely on writing down the solutions.

For someone like her, who came from an interstellar civilization and had received the highest level of education, this math was truly simple.

All the mathematical challenges here were nothing more than commonplace formulas back in the interstellar age.

She had already finished the first two problems. Only the last one remained.

The pencil in An Ning’s hand paused for a moment, but then she brought the tip to the paper.

’So what if it’s a famous unsolved problem? If I’m going to shock the world, I might as well go all out!’

’Besides, this stuff is child’s play. It’s not that impressive.’

Solving this one mathematical challenge made An Ning write until her wrist ached.

One page, then five, ten, twenty... In total, An Ning filled thirty-one sheets of white paper.

While An Ning was still writing furiously, one team submitted their answers.

They shot the Huaxia Team an arrogant look and said, "Good luck."

But when he finished speaking, he realized no one from the Huaxia Team had even bothered to look up. His attempt to look cool had been a complete waste.

"There are forty minutes remaining," the host announced. "Teams that are not finished may continue working."

The host made the reminder from the stage. The team that had turned in their papers sat calmly to the side, waiting. Their answers had been submitted and were now under review by the judges.

With half an hour to go, another team submitted their answers.

With twenty minutes remaining, three more teams turned theirs in.

With ten minutes left, four more teams submitted.

With five minutes to go, a total of eleven teams had submitted their work, leaving only the Huaxia Team.

"Five minutes remaining. Please be mindful of the time."

"Three minutes remaining. Please be mindful of the time."

"Two minutes remaining—"