Liuli, 20 years old, born under the sign of Libra, is a carefree foodie with a boundless love for all things delicious. Her biggest passion? Burgers. The mere sight of one can light up her eyes. At this moment, she’s sprawled on the couch, clutching a remote control, her eyes glued to the TV screen. An ad for Burger King is playing, showcasing a giant cheeseburger with its sizzling beef patty dripping with melted cheese.

“Flame-grilled is always better…” The deep, alluring voice-over fills the room, paired with close-ups of layer after layer of burger perfection.

Liuli swallows hard, her stomach letting out a loud growl.

Her gaze shifts from the TV to the coffee table in front of her. It was once piled high with snacks, but now it lies bare. Empty wrappers are scattered in the corners, looking like remnants of a battlefield. She sighs dramatically, turning her head to glance at the clock.

“Why isn’t my food here yet?! I’m going to starve to death!” she complains, picking up her phone to call the delivery driver again.

“Ma’am, your order is on its way. It should arrive in fifteen minutes,” the monotone voice on the other end informs her.

Fifteen minutes?! Liuli’s mind goes blank at the thought. She collapses back onto the couch, her head resting against the cushion, muttering to herself, “Fifteen minutes… Can I even survive that long?”

Her eyes wander around the room, her hunger-driven imagination running wild. She lifts the remote and stares at it intently, muttering, “If only this were chocolate… even just a tiny piece of candy would do!”

She examines the remote closer, letting out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, right. If I eat this, I’ll just end up paying for a new one.”

Her gaze then lands on the refrigerator. In her mind, it morphs into a “burger vending machine,” stocked with all kinds of flavors: classic cheeseburgers, bacon doubles, spicy chicken sandwiches… She swallows hard again, forcing herself to stay put.

“No! I can’t keep thinking about this. I have to distract myself!” she declares, suddenly sitting upright and grabbing a random book from under the coffee table.

But the moment she opens it, she freezes. It’s a cookbook… for burgers.

The pages read:

How to Make a Classic Cheeseburger:

• Ingredients:

  • 200g ground beef patty
  • 2 slices of cheese
  • Lettuce, tomato, and onion, as desired
  • 1 hamburger bun
  • Ketchup and mayonnaise, as desired

• Steps:

  1. Season the beef patty with salt and pepper. Pan-fry until golden brown on both sides.
  2. Slice the bun in half and lightly toast it in the oven.
  3. Place lettuce, tomato slices, and onion rings on the bottom half of the bun.
  4. Add the cooked beef patty and top with cheese slices.
  5. Spread ketchup and mayonnaise on the top half of the bun, then assemble the burger.
  6. Enjoy your delicious, homemade cheeseburger!