Chapter 1

At 7 a.m., I had just unplugged the last car.

"Stop! This charging station cannot be used anymore!"

Clark Reeves stepped in front of the parking space, holding his phone so close that the camera was practically in my face.

The neighbors waiting in line rubbed their sleepy eyes and looked at the charging connector still dripping with water.

"What's going on, Clark? I'm going to be late for work!" Kevin Dawson called out, clutching his car keys.

Clark ignored him and held up a silver testing device toward the camera. "Everyone, take a good look. The grounding resistance on this charging station just exceeded the safety limit. Mr. Foster, do you have an electricity supply license?"

I switched off the main breaker. "This is my privately owned parking space and electrical meter. The neighbors only charge here when I'm not using it. I don't charge them any service fees."

"That's just playing word games." Clark quickened his speech for the livestream.

"You transfer electricity to other people, and they transfer the cost back to you. That's electricity resale. Without a license, the insurance company can refuse to cover any accident. Who's responsible if someone's battery catches fire?"

He abruptly turned toward me. "Thirty-seven cars. Thirty-seven families. Can you afford to take responsibility for all of them?"

The area around the parking spaces fell silent.

Danielle Lewis, who had her phone out, ready to make a payment, wiped the smile from her face slowly. Every time she came home late at night, she'd charge her car at my station and save more than ten dollars.

Serena Walsh placed a hand on her stomach. Her car had only charged twelve percent, and she needed to drive to the hospital for a prenatal appointment that day.

"Nathan, is what he's saying true? If the battery gets damaged, will insurance refuse to pay?"

"I have $450,000 in public liability coverage, and the installation was approved by property management." I pointed to the electrical panel on the wall. "There hasn't been a single breaker trip in the past few months. Everyone's cars have been fine."

"It’s truly terrifying how ignorant some people are about the law." Clark's lips curled into a smirk. "The exclusions in your public liability policy are crystal clear. Any losses caused by operating an unauthorized electricity supply business aren't covered. Calling it free doesn't exempt you from legal risks."

People began whispering among themselves.

"He's right. Free charging is convenient, but who do we go to if our cars break down?"

"I heard privately installed chargers have unstable voltage. They can make your battery swell."

I checked the time. It was already 7:15. If we didn't get moving, the entire neighborhood would be stuck in traffic.

"Anyone who wants to charge can stay. Anyone who doesn't can unplug." I pressed the start button. "I'm not forcing anyone."

The neighbors used to speak up for me. Today, not a single person said a word.

Kevin gritted his teeth and drove away. "I'll go charge somewhere else. Better not risk a new car."

Clark stepped beside the parking space and adjusted the angle of his phone camera. "For everyone's safety, I'll personally supervise the entire rectification process."

He pressed his testing device against the electrical panel and took more than a dozen photographs.

One by one, the car owners left. Not a single person thanked me.

At noon, a friend sent me a link.

I was third on the local trending list.

"Free Charging or Illegal Electricity Resale? Hidden Fatal Risks Behind Private Charging Stations in Residential Communities."

In the video, Clark had circled my electrical meter in red. He had edited my words, "I'm not forcing anyone," to appear after a stretch of black screen.

The comments were full of insults.

"He's using his neighbors' cars as test subjects and then hiding behind the word 'free' if something goes wrong?"

"People like this are disgusting. They use free services to build a good reputation, then wash their hands of everything when there's a problem."