CHAPTER 287
Early the next morning, Starlight TV’s official social media account posted a major announcement, declaring Arianna as the rightful winner of the anchor competition.
Alongside that, it was confirmed that Arianna had accepted an offer to join Starlight TV as one of their new anchors.
The announcement quickly attracted a wave of supportive comments from the public. Arianna’s talent, hard work, and resilience had been on full display throughout the competition, winning her the admiration of viewers.
Many praised her for achieving success on her merit, never relying on her connections or taking shortcuts.
Her fan base on social media surged, surpassing a million followers in just a few days.
Seeing the overwhelming support, Arianna shared Starlight TV’s announcement and added her message:
*Thrilled to join the Starlight TV family! Thank you for believing in me. I’ll keep giving it my all!*
Later that day, Arianna was invited to Starlight TV’s headquarters, where the general manager organized a special award ceremony in her honour.
Surrounded by her new colleagues, Arianna was presented with her competition trophy and official employment letter. She posed for a commemorative photo with the general manager, capturing the moment that marked the start of her career.
The event was set to air on Starlight TV during prime time, with additional replays scheduled over the following days to maximize publicity. Arianna was given an incredible welcome—an unprecedented level of attention and support for a newcomer to Starlight TV.
When she brought the trophy home, her success was celebrated with joy by Grandma King and Aunt Julia. The old lady beamed with pride, saying,
"Arianna, this trophy represents something truly meaningful. We should place it in the centre of the living room, so it’s the first thing guests see when they come in.”
Arianna smiled but shook her head gently. “I can’t.”
“What? Why not?” Grandma King asked, a curious look in her eyes.
Arianna smiled, a little embarrassed. “Because... this is my gift for Xander.”
The old lady and Aunt Julia exchanged knowing glances, a mischievous sparkle in their eyes.
“Ohhhh,” they chorused, sharing a look that said it all.
The old lady chuckled, her eyes twinkling.
“Ah, so it’s a symbol of affection, is it?” she teased, giving Arianna a knowing smile.
Aunt Julia nodded in agreement. “Then it’s only right for us to let the young couple keep it between them.”
Arianna’s cheeks flushed as they continued to tease her. Laughing nervously, she said,
“Alright, Grandma King, Aunt Julia, I’m heading upstairs,” and with that, she held the trophy close and dashed off to her room.
Once inside, she set the trophy carefully on her desk, taking a moment to admire it before snapping a quick picture. She opened her messaging app, pulled up her chat with Xander, and sent the photo with a message.
*Your gift has arrived! Proof of delivery is required!*
To her surprise, Xander responded quickly:
*Requesting express delivery service, please.*
Grinning, Arianna typed back, *I’m in high demand these days. How much are you offering for my services?*
*I’m all out of cash,* Xander replied. *But I can pay you by myself.*
Arianna sent back a playful emoji of a crossed-arm refusal, playfully rejecting his
“offer.”
After that, Xander didn’t reply. She waited, a little curious, but as the minutes ticked by, she figured he was probably back to work.
‘He’s not one to get upset over a joke,’ she thought.
Setting her phone down, she carefully returned the trophy to its box. She tied a colourful ribbon around it, forming it into a little bow. Smiling to herself, she placed the box somewhere safe, already looking forward to presenting it to Xander in person when he came back.
That night, Arianna took her time going through her skincare routine, preparing herself for her first official day at Lychee TV in the morning. She was already looking forward to it as she drifted off to sleep.
In the middle of the night, she felt the warmth of someone’s gaze on her. Though she was half-asleep, she slowly opened her eyes, expecting to be alone.
But Xander’s familiar face was there, inches from her own. Thinking it must be a dream, she mumbled, “Xander…”
To her surprise, he replied softly, “I’m here. Did I wake you?”
Arianna’s eyes flew open, and she stared into his dark eyes for a few long seconds, realizing she wasn’t dreaming.
“You... you’re home?”
Xander’s lips curved slightly.
“When my delivery didn’t arrive, I had no choice but to come pick it up myself.”
He cupped her cheek with a warm hand. “I got in late and didn’t want to disturb you, but I just couldn’t help it. I missed you”
“It’s okay.” She sat up, settling against him, her voice still a bit sleepy. “I missed you too.”
Xander’s arm tightened around her, holding her close. “So, where’s my gift?”
She nodded toward the cabinet. “Right there on top. I’ll grab it for you.”
“Stay put. I’ve got it.” He stood up, crossed the room, and picked up the box, grinning when he saw the ribbon she’d tied around it.
“A little extra touch of celebration, I see.”
“Of course! Open it!” she urged with a smile.
Carefully, he untied the ribbon, taking his time just as she had when wrapping it. When he finally opened the box and saw the trophy inside, his eyes softened, as if it were the most precious thing he’d ever held.
After a moment, he placed the trophy back in the box and leaned down to kiss her.
“Thank you, love. Thank you so much. I’ll make sure it’s somewhere special.”
"I’m just happy you like it," she murmured, a soft smile playing on her lips. She reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck and gently pulling him closer until their lips met in a warm, lingering kiss.
But a brief kiss was never enough for Xander. He slid his arms around her and deepened the kiss, savouring every moment. As their embrace grew more intense, he gently laid her back onto the bed, both of them lost in the warmth of the night.
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