Chapter 311: Reporting In

The car finally stopped in front of the spacious entrance plaza of Xiangchuan Medical College’s new campus.

The campus gate was of a simple, yet grand design. The huge sign bearing the school’s name—[Xiangchuan Medical College]—gleamed in the sunlight.

Chen Mo and Su Yuqing got out of the car, pushing their luggage.

The September sun shone down on the open plaza without any obstruction.

The air was a mixture of the scent of fresh grass, the warmth, and the energy of the young crowd.

All around them were other new students, just like them, their faces filled with excitement, curiosity, and hope. Guided by volunteers, they were either checking maps or looking for the registration area.

The sounds of rolling suitcase wheels, parents’ reminders, and conversations in various accents filled their ears.

Before them, the campus unfolded. Brand-new academic buildings and research centers stretched out under the blue sky, while wide plazas and walkways connected the various functional areas.

In the distance, they could see a state-of-the-art gymnasium and brand-new student dormitories.

This was where they would spend the next few years of their undergraduate studies, building a foundation and stepping through the gates of medicine.

"We’re here. The new campus." Chen Mo gave Su Yuqing a gentle smile and naturally opened an umbrella to shield her from the hot sun.

"Where do we go first?" Su Yuqing asked, a little lost.

After all, Su Yuqing was a rather introverted person, so being away from home, she naturally relied on the only person she knew.

"Let’s go to the registration desk first."

"Okay." Su Yuqing raised a hand to gently wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead with a tissue. Her gaze swept over the modern campus buildings before landing on the magnificent Xiangchuan Third Hospital across the street. A bright light shone in her eyes.

She took a deep breath of the air, which smelled of new beginnings, and nodded with a smile.

The two of them followed the stream of people toward the modern gymnasium.

In the plaza outside the gym, rows of temporary blue canopies were neatly arranged. Eye-catching signs for different schools and majors hung above each one.

Upperclassmen wearing matching volunteer T-shirts bustled about enthusiastically, proactively approaching and guiding the new students.

"Hi, what’s your major?" a female volunteer with a bright smile and a ponytail asked as she hurried over.

"Clinical Medicine, eight-year program," Chen Mo replied.

"Oh! The big shots from the eight-year program are this way! Follow me!" The volunteer’s eyes lit up as she enthusiastically pointed to a nearby canopy. "See? The sign for the [Xiangchuan Medical College, School of Clinical Medicine]. There’s a special reception for the eight-year program!"

Under the canopy, several long tables were pushed together. A few teachers and more student volunteers sat behind them.

On the tables were sign-in sheets, stacks of file folders, QR code scanners, and laptops.

There was no one in front of their table, but the nearby tables had short lines of new students and their parents.

Because the eight-year program was different from the five-year one, they didn’t have to wait in line with the five-year students and could go directly to a designated teacher.

The person in charge of receiving them was a kind-faced, middle-aged female teacher wearing glasses.

"Hello, students. Let me see your admission notices and original ID cards," the teacher said with a smile.

Su Yuqing quickly pulled a transparent file folder from her backpack. It contained all the necessary documents for both of them: admission notices, ID cards, college entrance exam admission tickets, ID photos, and so on.

She carefully took out her and Chen Mo’s admission notices and ID cards and handed them over.

"Hm?" The teacher gave them a surprised look. It was obvious they were a couple, and she hadn’t expected them to both get into the eight-year clinical medicine program. That was certainly a surprise.

The teacher carefully compared the photos on the notices with their faces, confirmed their ID information, and then quickly found and checked off their names on the new student list on her laptop.

"Student Chen Mo, Student Su Yuqing, Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program)... yes, everything is correct." The teacher nodded and ticked their names on the sign-in sheet.

"Here are your registration packets," the teacher said, picking up two thick kraft paper bags printed with the school emblem and the words [Xiangchuan Medical College First-Year Student]. She handed them over. "Inside, you’ll find your campus ID cards—they’re temporary—a new student handbook, a safety manual, a college directory, and a draft of your class schedule. Read the handbook carefully; it has a detailed schedule of procedures and important notices."

"Thank you, ma’am!" the two of them said, accepting the heavy bags.

"You’ve already deposited the tuition and housing fees into the designated bank account, correct?" the teacher asked as a matter of routine.

"Yes, we have," Chen Mo and Su Yuqing both nodded.

As per the instructions in their admission notices, they had already deposited the full amount for tuition, housing, and pre-paid textbook fees into the designated debit card account the school had mailed them.

The school’s finance office would automatically deduct the payment in a batch during the registration period, so there was no need to line up and pay in person.

"Good. If you have any questions about the deduction, you can go to the finance office window in the administration building later. The next step is over there..." The teacher pointed to a smaller canopy nearby, which had a sign that read [Campus Card Activation & Fee Confirmation]. "Go activate your campus cards and confirm the status of your fee payments. If there are no issues, the card will be officially active. You’ll need it to eat, get drinking water, enter the library, and for building access."

"Thank you, ma’am." After smiling and nodding at the teacher, Chen Mo and Su Yuqing walked over to the side.

They walked to the adjacent canopy.

This station was mainly run by student volunteers.

Su Yuqing and Chen Mo each handed over their newly received temporary campus cards and their ID cards.

The volunteer placed the card on a reader and clicked a few times on the computer. "Student Su Yuqing, your tuition, housing, and other fees have been successfully deducted. I’m activating your card now. The default password is the last six digits of your ID number. Remember to change your password and add money for meals at a top-up machine or through the mobile app as soon as possible."

With a soft BEEP, the card was activated.

Chen Mo’s process was just as quick.

"Alright, your campus cards are officially active! Take good care of them; they’re very important," the volunteer said, handing the cards back.

"Thanks!"

Just then, the upperclassman pointed to the [Dormitory Key Slip] in their packet and said, "Your dorm building and room have been pre-assigned based on your major and class. It’s written on the key slip. Take this slip to the reception desk on the first floor of your assigned dorm building and get your official key and residence card from the dorm manager. Our dorms are like hotel-style apartments; you can use the card or a key to open the door."

Su Yuqing quickly found her key slip and read it aloud: "[Xingyuan Apartments], Building A, Room 503."

Chen Mo’s key slip read: "[Xingyuan Apartments], Building B, Room 504."

This meant they were living nearby, on the same floor level even. They might even be able to see each other’s windows.

"Xingyuan Apartments are just over there..." the upperclassman said, enthusiastically pointing them in the right direction. He gestured toward several new, identical-looking high-rise buildings in the distance. "Just go straight down this road, and when you see the sign for the [Student Service Center], turn right. The new buildings with balconies at the end of the path are the Xingyuan buildings. They’re all marked. The reception desk is at the entrance on the first floor of each building."