Lin Sheng stood frozen in the doorway of his Airbnb, his eyes wide with utter shock as he stared at the unexpected guest standing outside.
“Zhou Han?” Lin Sheng asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and confusion.
“What are you doing here? Wait a minute—are you here to steal my talent? My protégé?”
Zhou Han let out a bright, echoing laugh, stepping into the beautiful apartment that overlooked the stunning Mombasa ocean view.
“No, no, no,” Zhou Han said, waving his hand playfully.
“I came here because she is already like a sister to us. I thought I should come and support you to take her back to China. Plus, everyone always says Kenya is an incredibly beautiful country—so I wanted to come and enjoy it myself! Is that alright, Sheng?”
Habiba stood by, watching the two major stars banter like old friends, a massive smile lit up her face.
It was surreal to have both of them right here.
For the next two weeks, the city became their playground.
Back in China, walking down the street meant hiding behind heavy capes, deep hoods, and thick face masks just to avoid being swarmed by crowds.
But here in Kenya, they found a rare kind of freedom.
It wasn’t that they didn’t have fans in Kenya—far from it.
Mombasa was full of passionate Chinese drama lovers who knew their faces and their work perfectly.
But nobody expected to see two massive Chinese stars casually strolling through the local streets.
By ditching their dramatic historical costumes for simple shirts and sunglasses, they blended in seamlessly as ordinary, handsome tourists.
It was incredibly easy for them to disguise themselves in plain sight, allowing them to move around freely without any chaos.
Habiba took her role as their personal tour guide very seriously.
“Since you are here,” she told them proudly, “you have to experience real Kenyan hospitality.”
She introduced them to the vibrant world of coastal Kenyan food.
They sat together as she served warm, golden *mahamri*, alongside rich, coconut-infused *mbaazi*, za nazi
Lin shēng’s eyes lit up the moment he tasted the sweet and savory combination, instantly reaching for more.
Zhou Han, usually focused yet relaxed completely as he tried fresh ocean fish and *ugali*, deeply appreciating the rich flavors of the coast.
Over those two weeks, Habiba took them everywhere.
They visited the local animal parks, where Lin shēng laughed and tried to get as close as possible to the towering giraffes, while Zhou Han walked gracefully beside them, taking in the beautiful, sun-drenched landscape.
Showing them her home, her culture, and the traditional food of Kenya was a dream come true.
But Habiba knew these beautiful moments would come to an end soon.
One morning, Habiba took them down to Nyali Beach.
Lin Sheng immediately kicked off his shoes, laughing as he stood in the warm, wet sand, his toes sinking in as he ran towards the crashing waves.
Zhou Han walking at a slower pace, watching his friend’s antics with a familiar, fond exasperation,
“The ocean here feels different than back home,” Lin Sheng noted.
“The air feels alive.”
“That is the spirit of Mombasa!” Habiba said proudly, walking alongside them.
Habiba then introduced them to *viazi karai* (deep-fried battered potatoes) coated in bright red chili and tangy tamarind sauce (*ukwaju*).
Lin Sheng, always the adventurous eater, took a big bite.
His eyes widened, and he immediately began fanning his mouth, laughing through the spice.
“Wow! That has a kick! But it’s so good hen hao chi!” Can’t stop eating.
Even Zhou Han, usually preferred milder flavors, tried a small piece.
He nodded, gracefully, “Mmh, hǎo chī—hěn hǎo chī!”
Sharing simple street food with two of the biggest names in Asian media, Habiba felt a deep sense of peace.
They weren’t just stars to her anymore; they were becoming true friends.
On the final days of the two weeks as they approached.
At the balcony of the Airbnb, they were watching the sunset together.
On the other hand, the luggage was packed, and the plane tickets to China were secured.
“Thank you, Habiba,” Lin Sheng said quietly, looking at her directly in her eyes.
“You have shown us a beautiful side of the world we never knew existed. Now, it’s our turn to show you ours!”
Zhou Han smiled, his eyes gleaming with excitement for the future.
“Get ready, sister. Your real journey starts tomorrow.”
Habiba looked at her passport resting on the table.
Leaving her home in Mombasa, Kenya was going to be terrifying, but looking at the two men who believed in her talent, she knew she was ready to cross that bridge.
Still, Zhou Han didn’t know yet that Lin Sheng had fallen in love with Habiba.