A Billion Dollar Exchange

Beijing 10:23am

X_Dynasty Entertainment
...

They all sat in the s.p.a.cious hall waiting for their addresser. Liling was not feeling too well today. She was just having a bad feeling about everything. Xin Yong had tried to cheer her up but nothing was working. She knew something was not right, but she couldn"t really point it out.

They had spotted Richen in the hall, she was sitting with a group of other girls, probably her friends. She had this confident smile on her lips that said "she was already selected" and Xin Yong felt like plucking out those silly eyes of hers.

Before long, a tall tanned skin lady on pencil skirt suit with high heels to match walked into the hall, followed by a man obviously her secretary or a.s.sistant. He was carrying a file on his arm as he walked after her diligently.

Her face was beaming with smiles as she climbed the podium.

"You all look dull today, hope it"s just the weather right? "

She joked and they all laughed, though with pounding hearts. Everyone in the hall, including her knew why they all appeared dull. Today would determine their fate in the Music Industry, either to be selected or told to leave.

"Alright, let"s cut to the chase, before I call out the names, I"ll have to say some words of encouragement to all of you seated here;

She paused for sometime, then continued.

"This is not the end of the world and this is not the only record label in China!, so don"t give up on your vision if you weren"t selected.

We can"t take all of you but know that you all have the talent to make it for you to have come this far. For those who weren"t selected, you"ll be compensated handsomely for your time and efforts and for those who would be selected, get ready to work! "

The beautiful Miss stopped talking for a while. She swept her gaze over everyone sitting there, then signaled the man who was carrying the file over.

He handed the file over to her and she carefully opened it.

Liling felt like dying. Her whole body was visibly shaking, like she was about to explode at any moment.
She held onto Xin Yong for support.

Before long, the woman started calling out the names of those who were selected; any name mentioned, the bearer of such would leap for joy and hug his or her friends.

The second name mentioned was Richen"s. She didn"t even show any sign of surprise. She just remained on her seat, her legs crossed, as though she was expecting it anyway.

The twelfth name was Xin Yong"s. She hugged the life out of her friend as she screamed happily.
Liling"s heart raced faster as the woman approached the end of the list and until the last name, Liling"s name was not mentioned.
.
.
.

Liling felt her whole world stop that instant. She couldn"t see or feel anyone around her. Her mind instantly went blank.

She was not selected...
She was not selected...

It took her a good five minutes for the realization to dawn on her. She felt stings of tears as she tried to focus on the woman standing infront of her.

"If your name was mentioned, Congratulations! Welcome to X-dynasty, there would be a welcome party for you guys, it"ll be communicated in details later and then you"ll sign your contract and get to work immediately. If you weren"t selected;

The woman paused for a while then continued,

"If you weren"t selected, I wish you greener pastures and like I said you"ll be handsomely compensated. Good morning and have a great day! "

With that, she smiled and left the hall with her a.s.sistant racing after her.

The hall instantly became rowdy as the happy ones screamed for joy. The sad ones remained on their seats as their friends consoled them.

Xin Yong turned to look at Liling, speechless. She really didn"t expect that to happen. It came as a shock_ a great shock.

Liling was not moving, she just sat there staring into s.p.a.ce. At that moment, she felt like dipping herself into a drum of cold water and letting herself freeze to death.

"Liling... "
Xin Yong whispered sadly. She could feel her friend"s pain.

Realization starting dawning on Liling.

She just realized that had less than twelve months to stay with Liu Wei, so when her contract was over and she leaves his home where would she go to without a job?

Her father had disowned her, her mom was dead, she had n.o.body. This was her only hope! her only hope of survival, she had put in it her all, her everything! she tried her best, she really did!

Liling couldn"t stop the tears that fought their way through her eyelids anymore. Right now, she needed to cry.

"I"m finished!"

That was all Xin Yong could hear her say. She kept on repeating it as tears flowed from her eyes.

"Liling, something must have gone wrong somewhere, it"s not possible, you were the best of us all, it"s not possible, they must have omitted your name, it"s just not possible!..."

Xin Yong drew closer and hugged her friend tight as tears flowed from her own eyes. At that moment, she wished she could switch places, Liling was way gifted and talented than her, such talent could not go to waste, if it was possible, she would let Liling take her place.

The hall became scantier as people trooped out in pairs. The two friends sat hugging each other and crying in their arms.
After a while, when they sensed that the hall was almost empty, they stopped hugging and wiped away their tears.

"We should tell Liu Wei... "
Xin Yong said as they stood up from their seats.

"No, maybe I"m just not good enough, maybe that"s how it was meant to be... "

"What are you saying? How it was meant to be? How can you..."

"Tsk tsk tsk, I never knew you could cry this much. Liling..."

They were interrupted by a very familiar voice. Very familiar that they could not mistake it for another!

The two friends turned to see Richen walking towards them with hands crossed infront of her and an amused smile on her lips.

"I mean, I"ve been sitting there for almost an hour, but you guys were still crying. Come on, you could win a Grammy for it!"

Xin Yong felt like pulling out that miserable tongue she used to speak. She felt her anger rising up and she immediately took Liling by the hand and decided to walk away, ignoring the devil.

"Not so fast my lovely friends, don"t you want to know why the best of us all was not selected? "

Richen casually said as she admired her newly done fingernails. When she felt them stop walking, she let out an incredible laughter.