[Python] why is my startswith() only returning 0 even though the other methods, using the...

My beginswith(n_list, sub) function is where the startswith() method is; it is only returning 0. It is the only problem I am having. It is formatted like the working endswith() and .contains() methods, yet it isn't working.
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def readFile(file_name):
try:
with open(file_name, "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
return [line.strip() for line in file]



except FileNotFoundError:
print(f"The file name you specified does not exist.")
main()

def beginswith(n_list, sub):
return sum(names.startswith(sub) for names in n_list)

def endswith(n_list, sub):
return sum(names.endswith(sub) for names in n_list)

def contains(n_list, sub):
return sum(names.__contains__(sub) for names in n_list)

def getStats(n_list, sub): #gets stats function
stats_list = [] #empty list to store values
stats_list.append(beginswith(n_list, sub))
stats_list.append(endswith(n_list, sub))
stats_list.append(contains(n_list, sub))
return stats_list


def main():
file_name = input("What file do you want to open? ")
n_list = readFile(file_name)
print(f"The list has {len(n_list)} names")

while True:
sub = input("What name (or substring) are you interested in searching for? ")

if not sub:
break

begins_with_num = beginswith(n_list, sub)
ends_with_num = endswith(n_list, sub)
contains_sub_num = contains(n_list, sub)
stats_list = getStats(n_list, sub)

print(f"{begins_with_num} name(s) begin with '{sub}'")
print(f"{ends_with_num} names(s) ends with '{sub}'")
print(f"{contains_sub_num} name(s) contain '{sub}'")
print(stats_list)


# Main portion of code for local testing
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()

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