I’m Really a Superstar

Translator: Legge Editor: Legge

The next morning.

It was getting closer and closer to the start of the game.

On the Central TV Sports Channel: "The focus on the war between humans and machines has reached an unprecedented level of attention after yesterday\'s game. This match has had the most attention, trendiness, and viewership rating in the history of Go. In another hour, our station will continue the live broadcast of the second game of the match between famous math professor Zhang Ye versus the artificial intelligence program Peter. Will Peter continue to be victorious and win the final game, or will Professor Zhang turn defeat into victory and even the score to bring us to a third game? We\'ll see you at 9 AM on Central TV Sports!"

On Weibo, a number of people were showing their support for Zhang Ye.

Famous A-list movie star Ning Lan posted on Weibo early in the morning: "Zhang\'er, you can do it!"

Central TV Documentary Channel\'s Ha Qiqi: "Director Zhang, show them how awesome you are!"

Crosstalk actor Yao Jiancai: "Everyone, let\'s cheer for Zhang Ye!"

Singer Liao Yiqi (Spinach): "We must definitely show our support for Teacher Zhang\'s match!"

A lot of people were waiting and watching TV. Although the live broadcast had not started yet, some commentators and experts were analyzing yesterday\'s game in the live broadcast studio.

An expert: "We can see that Zhang Ye was always on the back foot."

The host: "Then does that mean it will be very difficult for him to win today as well?"

The expert: "It looks to be that way. But I\'ll still support Zhang Ye. He is the Go world\'s last line of defense! We can\'t lose!"

The host: "Then let\'s cheer for Professor Zhang, for Go, and for humanity!"

…

The public was heatedly discussing this as well!

Reporters had surrounded China Qiyuan!

Some of the citizens even organized a spontaneous cheerleading squad and were screaming loudly outside the Qiyuan!

However, it was pretty quiet within the Qiyuan, and the atmosphere inside could only be described as gloomy.

Dan Donghe asked, "What time is it?"

"It\'s 8 o\'clock," Chen Ying said tiredly.

Hu Liang asked, "Should we wake Professor Zhang up?"

Li Qinqin, who had just arrived, said, "Let him sleep awhile longer. You guys too. I heard that you were busy all night. Go home and rest."

"We\'re not tired, ma\'am," Xu Han said as he paced up and down.

Zhang Ye had studied the information until 6 in the morning before going off to get some rest. As the game was slated to begin at 9 AM, he had to reserve three hours of rest to recharge himself and replenish his stamina and mental fitness. As for the professional Go players and Qiyuan staff who had assisted Zhang Ye throughout the night, they did not yet leave to go home. All of them stayed behind and nervously stood around with wide eyes. Today\'s game was extremely important to them!

Awhile later.

Someone suddenly shouted, "Professor Zhang is up!"

Zhang Ye yawned as he walked in. "Good morning, everyone."

"How did you sleep?" Li Qinqin asked anxiously.

Zhang Ye smiled and said, "Quite well."

Dan Donghe said, "You only slept for two hours. You should sleep a bit longer."

"No need, two hours is enough for me." Zhang Ye\'s mental state was great. His constitution was different from most ordinary people as he could recover after resting for just a little.

Wu Changhe had also gone to catch some z\'s at one of the Qiyuan\'s rest areas. As the game was about to start, he fast walked over. "You in good shape? Think you can win?"

Zhang Ye laughed and said, "I\'ll give it a try."

He had done all that he needed to do. Although Zhang Ye did not have the time to memorize all the game records, a majority of the crucial games were photocopied into his mind.

He had said that he would give it a try yesterday as well, but still lost in the end.

When they asked him again today, he was still saying that he would give it a try?

Everyone looked at him with pessimism.

Dan Donghe patted his shoulder and said, "Just do your best!"

Li Qinqin added, "Don\'t be too pressured. It\'s alright even if you lose."

Zhang Ye said, "OK."

Dan Donghe looked at his watch, then turned around to the staff and said, "Let the reporters in."

The reporters were allowed in.

The Americans were already in the Qiyuan.

The American representative said to his assistant, "Have you booked the plane tickets?"

His assistant said, "They\'ve been booked. The tickets are for tonight\'s flight, but the match is still—"

The American representative laughed and said, "We\'ll be done today. Do you guys think that Zhang Ye can take a game?"

At this, the Americans laughed and eased into a very relaxed mood. "Our product has become famous. If we can sweep the Go world with a perfect record, more people will be asking to cooperate with us. Quite a few companies have already contacted us, in fact."

The American representative nodded. "Very good. A perfect record? It will definitely be a perfect record! Peter will not lose even one game, nor will it be allowed to lose! We will create a legend!"

The pregame interview began.

Numerous reporters surrounded the American team.

The Xinhua News Agency: "I heard that your plane tickets have been booked for a flight for tonight?"

The American representative glanced at him and did not dodge the question. "Yes."

From the Beijing Times: "If Professor Zhang wins today, then the third game—"

"That won\'t happen," interrupted the American representative.

A female reporter said, "You sound very confident of that."

"That\'s right." The American representative said, "The match is as good as decided because Peter is the most advanced AI ever. Its analytical and thinking abilities are not things humans can possibly compete with. The entire world should have noticed Peter\'s strength by now. I can assuredly tell you that in the entire world of Go, nobody can win against Peter, whether it\'s today or in the future. The only thing that could beat Peter would be a similar kind of AI."

A male reporter probed, "What kind of projects will Peter take part in in the future?"

A young reporter asked, "Will Peter continue to challenge the intelligence of humans?"

A lot of the reporters were following the American representative closely and asking all sorts of questions.

Whereas not too many people went to interview Zhang Ye.

It could be seen that even though a lot of people were cheering for Zhang Ye, they were doing so because they stood on humanity\'s side. But with respect to the outcome of the match, not too many were optimistic about Zhang Ye\'s chances.

Zhang Ye and the Qiyuan\'s people overheard the Americans\' conversation.

Yu Yingyi and some of the reporters from the Beijing Times were interviewing Zhang Ye.

Yu Yingyi raised her microphone and asked, "Is there anything you would like to say?"

Zhang Ye answered with a chuckle, "Yingyi, help me to pass a message to the Americans."

"What message?" Yu Yingyi said in surprise.

"Tell them to change their flight date." Then Zhang Ye slowly made his way to the game area and went up to the two international referees. He pointed at the computer and said, "I want to play directly against this thing."

The two referees were stunned. "What do you mean?"

Zhang Ye said, "I want to play directly against it. There\'s no need for a middleman to help place the stones."

There was no need for the stones and a Go board?

You want to play directly against the computer?

Zhang Ye\'s request immediately attracted a lot of astonished looks!

The international referees went to seek the Americans\' consent.

The Americans could not understand what the opponent was thinking. Didn\'t you members of the Go world always like playing Go using real stones and a Go board? Weren\'t you all accustomed to the touch of the stones?

The American representative glanced at Zhang Ye. "We have no objections."

Wu Changhe stopped Zhang Ye. "What are you trying to do?"

Xiang Rong 9-dan also came over. "Why do that?"

Zhang Ye smiled. "I like to play against my opponents face to face."

The machine that Peter resided in was a very normal computer equipped with a mouse and keyboard. However, Zhang Ye did not know whether there was any more advanced technology inside of it. He went over to take a seat as he looked up and stared at Peter\'s screen for a long time.

A tense feeling descended upon the venue!

Somehow, the stakes had been raised!

An employee said, "Interviews will end now. Can we please have the reporters leave?"

The reporters looked back with every step as they departed.

The people from China Qiyuan also gave a final look to Zhang Ye before they headed out to the spectator room next door. From here, they watched the big screen with all kinds of expressions on their faces!

The live broadcast had already begun!

There were still two minutes to the start of the game!

The Qiyuan went quiet!

The netizens went quiet!

…

Zhang Ye\'s father clenched his fists and said, "Son!"

His mother stared at the television and said, "Come on, you can do it!"

Zhang Yuanqi was alone at home. She was drinking wine as she was caught the live broadcast on TV.

Dean Pan Yang of Peking University\'s School of Mathematical Sciences: "Little Zhang, it\'s all on you!"

Yao Jiancai: "It\'s all over if you lose again!"

Fan Wenli: "Will he win?"

Chen Guang: "I feel that Zhang Ye is a little different today."

Wu Zeqing reached her workplace. When she entered the office, she said to Secretary Bai, "I have work to do in the morning. If anyone looks for me, schedule them for the afternoon." Then she turned on the Online Go Server\'s live broadcast and waited quietly with arms folded.

Every citizen in the country was watching television at this moment!

Many Japanese and Korean citizens were also focused on this game!

Counting down:

Three…

Two…

One…

The international referees started the game timer.

The second game of the match began!

Zhang Ye was all smiles today. He was feeling completely different from yesterday\'s cautiousness and seriousness!

Come on.

I\'ll let you witness the fruits of this bro\'s overnight labor!

I\'ll let you witness the special techniques of the 9-dan Go players from this bro\'s previous world!