Chapter 4

I didn't reply.

Someone who dared sell equipment for less than two hundred dollars—explaining to her would be a waste of breath.

Then the group messages started again.

Muniz: [Elena wants your body measurements to put on a show and tearfully earn a thousand. Actually, this data is completely useless.]

Verna: [We don't really understand this stuff either. We just believed whatever she said.]

Johnson: [If it weren't for Muniz, who knows how long we would've kept getting scammed.]

Diallo: [Thanks, Muniz. You just joined and you're already so real with us, unlike certain people.]

I muted the group chat notifications and pulled up a message on WhatsApp that I hadn't replied to.

It was from Pratt, the captain of another rock climbing team.

They used to always place first, but ever since I joined Johnson's team and provided equipment, Pratt's team had been stuck in second place.

Pratt had contacted me many times.

"Elena, I've looked everywhere on the market and can't find equipment like yours."

"Can you give me a purchasing channel? I won't let you help for nothing."

Yesterday, he somehow found out that I was the CEO of UP.

"Miss Elena, could you also make a few sets of that kind of equipment for us? Name your price!"

I hadn't replied.

Special customization was time-consuming and labor-intensive. If I took their order, I wouldn't be able to finish our team's in time.

Now, I opened Pratt's chat window.

"Nineteen hundred a set. Ordering?"

Pratt replied instantly: "Seven sets!"

Right after, a transfer notification came through. A hundred and forty thousand.

The seven thousand two hundred I'd just refunded Johnson wasn't even enough to cover the零头.

In the team group, Johnson @ mentioned me.

"Elena, why haven't you paid Muniz to order equipment yet?"

"The competition is coming up soon. Don't delay things!"

I replied: "I have my own equipment. I don't need to order from her."

Muniz sent a wronged emoji.

"Is Elena mad at me for taking your business?"

"Even if you're angry with me, you can't affect the team. We're a unit. It'll look so uncoordinated if you're wearing different equipment from everyone else."

Johnson sent a message:

"If you're only thinking about yourself and have zero team spirit, then quit the team."

Before I could say anything, Johnson kicked me out.

I looked at the "You have been removed from the group chat" notification and gently locked my screen.

It didn't matter. I couldn't possibly use two-hundred-dollar stuff for rock climbing just to fit in, could I?

I valued my life.

Pratt quickly compiled his team members' body measurements and sent them to me.

"Thank you. But won't your teammates be angry?"

"No, I just got kicked out of the team."

Right after I sent the message, Pratt pulled me into their rock climbing group.

"Elena's joining us! Everyone welcome her!"

I sent a "?"

Pratt said: "I was afraid you'd refuse, so I acted first."

I laughed. The group was buzzing with enthusiasm.

"Elena, you're finally here! Do you know how long we've envied your team's equipment?"

"I knew there was something special about Johnson's equipment—it looked so comfortable, fit perfectly. Turns out it was custom-made!"

"I went everywhere trying to find the same kind and couldn't find it anywhere!"

"How did they kick you out?"

I said: "Because a new member is providing them with two-hundred-dollar equipment sets, and they think I'm a scam artist."