We cross paths with countless people in our daily lives—colleagues, strangers on the bus, or even neighbors. Most are kind and genuine, but there’s always that one person who hides their true intentions behind a smile. They act innocent, but deep down, they’re looking for ways to benefit from your kindness without giving anything in return.
One day, I bumped into my elderly neighbor near our building’s entrance. She seemed worried and asked if I could help her with her computer. She said she couldn’t open any websites. When I checked, I noticed her computer wasn’t connected to Wi-Fi. It turned out that three days earlier, I had replaced my router and changed the password. That’s when I remembered—eight years ago, she had asked for my help because she didn’t have internet and needed to contact her son in China. Back then, I installed Skype for her and connected her to my Wi-Fi, but I never thought to disconnect her afterward.
When I explained that she had been using my internet for eight years, she simply asked, “What should I do now?” I suggested she get her own internet plan, which was only about $4 a month. Her response? “Just set it up like before. You have internet. Why not share?” I politely declined. She never thanked me for the years of free internet, and now she doesn’t even greet me. Despite this, I still believe in trusting people.