"The attacker meant to kill brother.", Rong Xinghe mumbled softly, feeling a tingling sensation around her lips. Stupefied, the family turned to the girl, eyeing the weapon in her hands. "What's going on, Kid?", Su Rogguang was the first to question, an ominous intuit hitting him.

"Do we have a pressure bandage here?", the girl looked at her Bro Lu. The man nodded, calling for the club's manager immediately. "Bro Su, do you have access to an antivenom called FWSAV?"

"Yeah.", the man answered, "It's in the Military Sanatorium."

"Perfect.", the girl smiled, "Can someone please fire up a car while I go wash my hand? I know exactly how to deal with this.", she said, tossing the arrow away, "Don't touch that thing, alright? I'll have Elijah pick it up for forensics later."

As the girl strode down the terrace, the Six men exchanged glances among themselves. Antivenom? Although they hated to think of how she was so experienced with it, they knew they had to trust her on this.

"I'll call the driver.", Zhi Xi said, walking away. "And I will apprise the hospital to keep the drugs ready.", Su Rogguang remarked. FWSAV was one of the world's strongest antivenoms developed so to battle against the lethal poison of Atrax Robustus, the innately venomous mygalomorph Sydney funnel-web spiders. He had written a research paper concerning the cure in his college years ago. The spider bite had the ability to kill off a person within the disturbing range of 15 minutes to 3 days. No wonder she was in such a hurry, he surmised, as time would be the last thing at their disposal if such were to be the case.

"I am calling Yuan.", Ningtao looked at Songyan, grabbing her phone.

______________

Military Sanatorium, 23:30;

Whilst the girl's brothers ensured to keep the news as curbed as possible, a convoy of seven cars stopped in front of the army haven. A moment later, in a hurry, a tall figure appeared from the fourth vehicle, a team of guards shielding him immediately. With their Wedding day approaching, Xi Yuan and Rong Xinghe had received many threats, from rivals, militants, toxic fans, even. And even though the constant security was a headache, the couple knew it was a must. If nothing else, tonight had proven them quite right to speculate so.

"Where is she?", Xi Yuan strode in, Xi Wei following behind him worriedly.

"Envenomization had been done.", Su Rogguang answered as the two men approached the family, "She is sleeping right now. No serious symptoms. She will be under observation for the next twelve hours, still. But as for now, she seems fine, just a tad worn out."

Inhaling a deep breath, the man processed the situation before he looked at Lu Wei and then back at Su Rogguang, "Should I postpone the wedding?", he asked after a minute, a pinch of anxiety clear in his tone, "It can wait."

"It won't be necessary.", at this time, Shawn Florence's voice resounded from behind the man. Clothed into standard combat military uniform, the man had a casual smile across his lips. "We've fought through worse, Mr. Xi. And these spiders? Xinghe used to play with those things to exterminate her targets back in the day. Well, them, and other poisonous creatures. She'd always carry vials filled with their venoms in her sling bag during her missions. She knows antidotes to a colossal variety of animal toxicants.

"I understand why you're dreading this, I really do.", the man added, focusing on Xi Yuan as he said so, "But there is no reason to."

"Wha--", Zhi Xi was about to question the Hybrid further just when a nurse walked out of the VIP hospital space, her gaze searching for Su Rogguang and Ching Tong, "Umm... the patient is awake.", she informed.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

23:40;

As the Six tigers waited for Su Rogguang to check on the girl's condition quietly, Xi Yuan grabbed a stool next to her, holding onto her cold hand in his, gazing at her engagement ring. The man did not say anything to her. He did not wish to, for he knew she'd do the same thing all over again if she were given a choice. Between herself and her brothers, she'd always chose them. Between herself and Country X, she'd rather have her nation live on. That was just what she was. A protector. To her, her own life had never been a priority. And as much as he hoped for things to be otherwise, he knew it was simply impossible.

The girl, on the other hand, could not tell what the man was thinking. It'd be completely fair for him to lash out or rebuke her, she believed. He had every right to. Her entire family had, actually. She did not mind their protectiveness. Not a speck.

"Yuan.", Rong Xinghe spoke only after the two of them were alone, "It was reflex.", she began to explain.

"I know.", the man smiled, bringing the back of her hand to his lips, planting a tender kiss against it, worried that even that much a movement might hurt her, "But I still hate this."

"Sorry.", the girl replied softly.

"Xinghe, the wedding..."

"It's happening.", the woman smiled resolutely, "I am fine, President Xi. Bro Su said so himself. Please, for the love of God, just marry me, will you?!"

Xi Yuan laughed as the girl pouted, folding her hands, pleading to him for something he'd dreamed of since the moment they'd met. Without uttering another word, the man lied down beside the woman, pulling her in his arms, "Alright. But only because you want to.", he said haughtily, earning a short scoff from her.

From a distance, Shawn Florence stared at the couple, drifting to sleep together, peace spreading through his heart gradually. "You okay, baby brother?", David Florence walked up to the man, his eyes traveling to Xinguan as well, "Regretting your choices?", he asked then.

"Nope.", the man laughed.

"You could've had this with her.", David said, his tone filled with concern, "Five years was a long time, Shawn. You should've let her in."

"We were doomed. Xinghe and I.", Shawn shook his head, "We were both Rippers. Two 'successful' lab experiments with their humanities off. How do you think we would've ended?

"At least, this way, she knows she'll always have a friend in me. That I'll be there protecting her, quietly. That's the closest I can ever get to Xinghe, you know. I can live with that. And just look at them. Look at her. This is what 'meant to be' looks like."