Eric Carter gave a faint smile and, without another word, downed his drink in one gulp. After a soft gasp, Lily covered her mouth and giggled, saying, “Handsome boy, you sure can hold your liquor! May I have a few words with our Sophie?”

Eric Carter made a gesture of permission, appearing to lounge carelessly on the sofa, his gaze drifting over the huge LCD screen. Yet, he caught every single word Lily whispered into Sophie Baker’s ear without missing a beat.

After Lily got up and left, Eric Carter looked at Sophie Baker, whose eyes revealed a hint of inner struggle. Without any pretense, he leaned in close, suddenly tightening his grip around her slender waist, startling her out of her chaotic thoughts, and said in a low voice, “What Lily told you is something you must not do. And as long as I’m here, I won’t allow you to do it.”

Eric Carter’s tone was firm and left no room for negotiation. Sophie Baker exclaimed in shock, “You heard everything…”

“Do you really think the most precious thing a woman has is only worth two hundred thousand?”

Though Eric Carter’s words seemed casual, they made Sophie Baker’s heart clench inexplicably. She struggled but couldn’t break free from his hand on her waist. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Opportunities like this don’t come often. If I don’t seize it…”

At the moment, Eric Carter truly couldn’t produce a hundred thousand US dollars, so he had no intention of persuading Sophie Baker to give up this deal—which was fatally tempting to her right now—by offering money. With a thought, he immediately stood up, forcefully pulled Sophie Baker to her feet, and said, “Come with me. I’ll go with you to see what kind of person this rich young master, who’s willing to spend a fortune for just one night with the Red Pill, really is.”

Not giving Sophie Baker any chance to resist, Eric Carter’s thin, youthful frame exuded such an imposing aura in that moment that she was left stunned, and she simply followed him out of the private room in a daze.

On the other side, Jason Reed, who was flirting wildly with the blonde wildcat, saw Eric Carter dragging a girl out and couldn’t help but give a thumbs up in praise: “Xiao Yi, you really have a way with things—settled it so fast! Haha, don’t forget to collect your red envelope tonight, okay? Others might not know, but as your brother, I know for sure—you’re definitely still a virgin.”

By now, Eric Carter had already stepped outside, but he still heard Jason Reed’s half-drunk, half-crazy banter. He could only smile wryly, wanting to righteously grab Jason Reed and say, “You’re only half right. Sure, this body of mine is still a virgin, but when it comes to experience with men and women, even the top male stars in the AV industry can’t compare to me…”

As Eric Carter led Sophie Baker out, he immediately spotted, about thirty meters down the corridor, Lily chatting with a handsome young man of about twenty, her face plastered with a fawning smile. As she spoke, she kept glancing and gesturing in their direction.

“I’m going to meet someone. Sophie, you go into the room first. There are some things you’re better off not knowing.” After seeing the young man in the tailored suit, whose appearance carried a hint of coldness, Eric Carter suddenly changed his mind, pushed open the door, and motioned for Sophie Baker to go inside.

“Xiao Yi, you’re not going to cause any trouble, are you?” Sophie Baker asked nervously.

“How could I? Look at me—do I look like someone who stirs up trouble? Heh.”

With Eric Carter half-pushing, half-guiding her, Sophie Baker returned to the private room and closed the door behind her. Eric Carter then strolled forward.

“Lily, right? The girl I arranged for tonight will be leaving with me. I just came over to let you know.”

At this moment, Eric Carter was still wearing a middle school uniform. Both his clothes and his face made it clear he was just a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy. Yet, the moment he spoke, even Lily, who had been in this business for over a decade, felt it was only natural for Eric Carter to say such a thing.

The young man, whose expression carried a hint of wickedness, clearly took Eric Carter for a hot-blooded, impulsive teenager, and stepped aside with interest, saying nothing. But Lily’s expression changed abruptly, showing a look of difficulty as she said, “Um… Sophie already has an appointment tonight… It’s not very convenient. How about I introduce you to someone even better?”

As a madam who could navigate the high-end scene with ease, Lily could clearly judge which clients couldn’t be offended and which could be tactfully declined. Upon hearing that Eric Carter wanted to take Sophie Baker out, she first glanced discreetly at the young man beside her, then put on a beaming smile and said to Eric Carter.

“Oh, someone beat me to it?” Eric Carter showed no sign of annoyance, still wearing a slightly lazy smile at the corner of his lips. “No need to trouble yourself. I’ve said what I needed to say. If anyone else wants to see Sophie, just have them come talk to me directly.”

The first time Eric Carter mentioned “Sophie,” the young man leaning against the wall frowned slightly. When Eric Carter finished speaking and turned to leave, the young man finally couldn’t help but step forward and say, “Stop. You’re the first to so brazenly challenge me, Ryan Foster.”

Before Eric Carter could reply, Lily hurriedly moved to the young man’s side, smiling obsequiously, “Young Master Foster, please don’t be angry. Don’t stoop to the level of a child. Rest assured, Sophie will definitely go with you tonight. I’ve already arranged everything.”