def METHOD_NAME(
    filename: str, prefix: str = "", offset: int = 0, max_num: int = 0
) -> List[str]:
    """Load a text file and parse the content as a list of strings.
    Args:
        filename (str): Filename.
        prefix (str): The prefix to be inserted to the begining of each item.
        offset (int): The offset of lines.
        max_num (int): The maximum number of lines to be read,
            zeros and negatives mean no limitation.
    Returns:
        list[str]: A list of strings.
    """
    cnt = 0
    item_list = []
    with open_read_text(filename) as f:
        for _ in range(offset):
            f.readline()
        for line in f:
            if cnt >= max_num > 0:
                break
            item_list.append(prefix + line.rstrip("\n"))
            cnt += 1
    return item_list