Hidden Love (2023)

she fell first but he fell harder

This is the reason I love chinese dramas
These type of romance dramas with slow burn cute and healthy relationships are just so soothing and healing..... like this could be something you watch multiple times and never get bored, something that's just running in your background but still prominent, something that you will watch again and again jus cuz why not, something to watch when the day's been hard and all u want is to smile...
Coming to the story.... it's nothing extraordinary but it's beautiful and true.... it doesn't have a thick plot but amazing script and direction.....it won't keep you on the edge of ur seat but has something to keep you smiling throughout and being unable to stop.
The chemistry between our leads is obviously amazing and theyre both soo pretty and i especially love how rosy can go from a cute little student to a mature lady by just changing her facial expressions like that's just wow
This drama here tells the story about the first love all little girls have and the beauty of it and maybe it will all work out in the end
would totally recommend this to anyone and just keep coming back here
big thanks to all the cast and crew!!!

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This drama is perfect to feed your heart and make you smile ?

The secret in hidden love popularity is the warmth and the positive vibes that you can feel between the FL and ML , the lovely family and the chaotic brother 😅
Duan jia xu found his home and comfort in Sang Zhi is so heartwarming 🥺
Sang Zhi drunk scene is the cutest and the funniest thing ever 😹
Despite being a low budget drama the cast is brilliant and everyone gave great performances . The plotline , The writing are well done which led to get a huge amount of views and recognition .
Zhao Lusi as always never disappoint and she's the queen of chemistry 🔥 and Chen Zheyuan smile is so healing 🥺🥰

This drama is perfect to feed your heart and make you smile 💝

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From 22 to 22

Sangzhi meets Jiaxu when she was 14, and fell in love with him when she was 17 and he was 22. Jiaxu was her brother's best friend and honestly, this is the healthiest drama ever. The plot, the acting, the storyline was amazing in so many levels. Sangzhi was very personality driven, never accepted unlawful behavior from anybody. She's by far the smartest character I've seen. And damn!! her brother Sangyan was the most beautiful character to exist. He really raised the bar for brothers and best friends. And Jiaxu! damn that man is one charming man!! his efforts to win Sangzhi was just worth dying for. Conclusively, this is the best drama I've watched. Highly recommended!!

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a truly healing and heartwarming romance

"I healed the wounds of his youth and he fulfilled my young first love."


This drama was such a sweet surprise for me. I confess I wasn't expecting much of it and as we say in portuguese: this show promised nothing and delivered everything.

There are such great points to talk about here that I don't even know where to start... The screenplay for this drama was perfect, the cast, the ost, the acting, the friendships, the chemistry... everything was perfection and there's no other word to describe it.

It was truly a healing romance and I loved every second of it, from her young first love, where she had a crush on him when she was younger, to when they meet again as adults and he starts to fall for the little things about her.

Their relationships with the people around them were also great, I truly loved seeing Zhi grow and find some real friends and the tragic first best friend of hers we are introduced to at the start of the show. There was also some drama along they way and things that could've easily brought misunderstandings among the main couple, but in the end, I loved how they always made things clear, allowing no wedges to come between them.

This is the first time I give a drama a 10/10 in rewatch value and that's just how good this was. I would rewatch it a thousand times all over again, just to seem them slowly falling for each other once again.

Jia Xu was also such a great guy, I loved how forward he was in persuing her and making himself clear about it, knowing she would probably feel insecure at first.

Anyways, it's a beautiful story about love, friendships, family and youth. I loved this and truly recommend it to anyone, because if you don't like this drama... well the problem it's probably you lol

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Sweet, light, cheesy, and everything the drama intended to accomplish

This drama was very light and sweet... to the extent that every now and then I got goosebumps from the cheesiness :) All else aside, this was definitely an easy, joyful watch. As other reviews note, there's a notable lack of toxicity, reality, and cynicism from this drama, so it's one of the light + sweet watches that you get every now and then. The leads and supporting characters are all delightful, and it's very well-written pacing/story wise. For the most part, scenes make sense and you don't get the inclination to skip them because they're so wholesome.

The story's very simple and basic, and there isn't really much to say. Nevertheless, it was executed beautifully and wholesomely. I do want to say to those more sensitive to 'questionable romantic lines' in the script, there are some very, VERY cheesy lines in this drama. In an interview/fan event, I think Zhao Lusi noted that this script gave her goosebumps while filming more than any other script. That being said, it's not cringy in a 'everything happened as a coincidence and none of this makes any sense' way, but rather in a 'this is very sappy and sweet lol' way. Do note that it started dragging a little around episode 18, though most of the drama does flow smoothly along.

The acting and 'chemistry' (as they say) is on point. Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan are wonderful together. I've watched a lot by Zhao Lusi, and she definitely does a great job but never struck me as something spectacular. However, this character really brought out her acting, and she's definitely grown so much! Chen Zheyuan played a very charming, heartthrob Duan Jiaxu : ) Everything played out very naturally and beautifully thanks to the great acting. I'm not sure how much there is to portray many times in non-tragic dramas, but you could see the items here were done very well.

The music I didn't enjoy as many others, but I know many really enjoy the OST especially 'Forever Star'. So it might be something to look forward to too~

Overall, sweet drama that's a good break from all the 'over-dramatic' dramas, iykwim. I'd definitely recommend watching it.

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A MUST WATCH

I absolutely love the story, there is nothing in here that left me unsatisfied-- although I WANT MOREEE!! yes, it's that good.

I've grown in love to this story. The phasing was a bit expected, I thought we would dive right in to the romantic stuff but it was surprising refreshing that they took time introducing us to the characters and making us fall in love with them, understanding how the characters also fell in love. It was a great story phasing, i dare not to miss a single episode.

This is my first c-drama and thank you God, it is. The butterflies in my tummy did not left, the chemistry between the leads is giving!! I would love to watch more of c-drama, with them as the leading stars.

The plot wasn't as heavy as other drama I've watch but this definetly is on par in many great dramas. I wished yo watch a lot more of drama's like this one!! Thank you so much for making this masterpiece!! xoxo

Sang yan, is def my fav character fkcjnsedfncsfnwdashdb

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That first love type of feeling

You know that feeling--where your heart flutters, you feel butterflies in your stomach, and you feel fluffy inside? That feeling where you feel so giddy, and can't stop smiling as if you're on cloud 9--that first love type of feeling? You blush, smiling wide, feeling super warm and fuzzy...this is what this drama is. It's so WHOLESOME! After watching a few angst-type dramas, I'm so glad Hidden Love came into my life. It provided the HEALING and positivity that I needed. So warm, fuzzy, all the feels from start to finish.
I felt myself going through the motions of the FL as she experiences falling in love, heartache, then happiness of having that love blossom (reciprocated). So nostalgic, making you remember what it's like to fall in love for the first time. The chemistry on screen was like no other, you get so emersed into the story of the drama and feel almost like you're the one falling in love.
If you are looking for a happy, wholesome, sweet, make-you-cry-happy-tears type of drama, then this is the one for you.

Storyline was very refreshing and well written. I was a little skeptic with the time skips at first, but it actually all flowed very well. It was nice being able to witness the gradual "growing up" of FL--how she grew and matured from an adolescent young lady who is still naive and innocent to a fine mature adult who understand resposibilites and is able to withstand hardships. Being able to watch the main leads grow (especially FL) makes you feel a special bond to the character and you find yourself cheering them on throughout their journey of discovering love and navigating those feelings for the first time.

Thank you to casts and all production crew for this wonderful love story!

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Terrible Script, 19 & 24 is a Terrible Age Gap for Romance!

Sit back because it's a lot; coming from a fan who looked forward to Hidden Love since the start of this yr.

People accuse Hidden Love of the Big P word, here I'll be accusing it of terrible, ignorant writing, and plain illogical plot progression. It's terribly written and lacks self-awareness. A 5 year age gap is nothing between consenting adults—the problem is that Hidden Love develops this relationship when SZ, (a rich, immature, sheltered brat) is 19 years old (MAYBE SHE'S 20—same thing) and the ML is 24, but acts older.

I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone, because how can I be the only person to find it strange how there's really only 1 episode of DJX having conflicting emotions over his change in love for his meimei...and then the next ep is him confirming it, then the next ep we move immediately to him flirting and beginning to pursue her. Pursue a 19 year old....

❌ Here's what they should have done differently:

1. ❌ DJX accepts his feelings too quickly—alarmingly quick. Yikes.
~2/3 episodes. First, him thinking about her more, then acknowledging his feelings, then WHAM! he's pursuing her now???
I would have hoped for there to be longer hesitation and for there to be a point where he pulls away—It's weird because he has known her since she was 14 and he was 19. It doesn't help that the actress casted for 14 year old SZ literally looks like an 8 year child, not a pre-teen. (actress is 12, which doesn't help either).

Shouldn't he find that so conflicting and feel some amount of disgust or have a knee jerk reaction to reject these feelings? Shouldn't he at least sit down with a trusted friend and share his conflicted feelings? Withdraw from SZ? Analyze his memories with SZ and wonder where he went wrong, maybe where these feelings started changing? Analyze if what he feels is really romantic love, or just appreication for a close friend/family member that have been amplified because he's lonely?

2. 🌻Sang Zhi has not grown. She is NOT a grown up.
I thought the time skip would take us to a Sang Zhi that was more mature and wordly in her mid 20s. Maybe take us to a Sang Zhi in her final year of school (age 22), the same age DJX would have been when she was in high school. No. Instead, SZ is 19, and only 2 years have passed since she entered her senior year of high school. It's a black box of 2 years until we see SZ again, and although she tries to pull away she has very weak resolve towards distancing herself from him. Why? BECAUSE SHE'S ONLY 19!

She keeps constantly repeating that she's grown up now, but none of her 'grown up' life is shown, such as actually focusing on her career, working a part time job, interacting with her professors, taking up positions of responsibility at school. She majors in Digital Media? I have not heard this word since it was first mentioned in the time skip episode. SZ is a sheltered, pampered kid who functionally has not changed since she was 17. Her character simply revolves around her meetings with DJX.

3. 😬There should have been a longer gap in between when they got together.
(why does it have to be her freshman yr of uni? Why not the same year when she was graduating uni, as it would have been for DJX when SZ was in highschool) I've said this many times but 19, even 20 is still TOO YOUNG. She has not dated anyone else. She's still a sheltered rich kid. What does she know?

4. ☀️ DJX should have had more wealth of characters around him.
A healthy adult, not suffering from trauma and not having many close friends who they open up to, would not form such an emotional reliance on their 19 year old meimei. Compared to SZ, DJX is much less developed, except for his backstory with his father. Does he have no friends in Yihe? He doesn't really get deep and personal with anyone besides SZ, not even Sang Yan, his jie at work, or his friend who's getting married. Let's not forget the psychotic Jiang Xing or whatever her name is, to act as a foil and make SZ look better. He should consult someone about his changing feelings the same way SZ spoke to her roommates.

5. 🙄 DJX is that DENSE!? How could he not realize SZ's feelings?
You're telling me this highly intelligent, (both EQ and IQ) guy, at age 19, 22, and then 24, did not realize or have an inkling that SZ might like him? The story deliberately never lets him find out when she is in HS or as a child, because then the right thing to do would be for him to flat out draw a boundary, reject her, and distance himself.

Instead, DJX is always 'teasing' in an I'd like to believe innocent way, but isn't taken that way because the audience knows SZ likes him, and that he 'doesn't know'. Such terrible writing, in the year 2023? Do you want to show a proper depiction of a healthy relationship, or do you want to just romanticize these....weird grooming-esque interactions, because the person in power (DJX) NEVER gets the opprtunity to draw a boundary and tell SZ to stop being delusional and obsessive.

5. 🧐❓DJX is only 24. He doesn't FEEL 24.
I get that originally he would have been 27, which would have made more sense with what he does day-to-day, but I find it hard to believe that every 24 year old is this mature and flirty and with a job and a car and a chief engineer at a top gaming company. I can suspend my disbelief that he's really smart, and was forced to grow up early. But some script changes should have been made for us to believe that DJX really is younger in the drama version VS. novel, because what it then really starts to look like is that they just changed his age to be younger so netizens would get off their back about their 7yr age gap.

Honestly? I had high hopes going in! I've been waiting for this drama all year. I loved Chen Zhe Yuan in Secrets in the Lattice, and also can always count on Zhao Lu Si do deliver a great performance.

But the progression from their relationship from brother-sister, to lovers, is concerning.

There were some netizens condemning this show and comparing it to pedophillia, and I can see why. I don't think this show **is** that, but they've done a piss poor job at having 0% evidence of that. When you're making a story with this kind of premise, you need to handle it very carefully and make very deliberate decisions, and Hidden Love didn't do it carefullly enough, and made POOR deliberate decisions.

The novel material may very well have had grooming and pedophilia, I haven't read it and don't plan to. But why wasn't this fixed for an adaptation, with such a good cast? Better yet, fixed for an adaptation that will be aired internationally, that many young children will see? I'll reiterate, a 5 year age gap is nothing. It's PROBLEMATIC and hORRIBLE, however, when it's between a 19 year old, immature and childish girl, and a traumatized, emotionally vulnerable 24 year old man. I'm SZ's age group. I would never date a 24, much less 27 year old. And SZ is 19, and acts 12. Aiyaaa.

ANYWAYS, TL;DR, could have been a great story, with especially great actors after this drought from Cdrama land the past few months, but even my desperation will not allow me to keep watching this (at least not right now). A story with potential, with GREAT ACTORS and OST and PRODUCTION, that had a very poorly thought out,ignorant, misleading, and harmful script.

Could have all been solved by keeping things innocent until SZ is older and mature.

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Favorite Drama of all time

Forever grateful to whatever stars aligned to make me watch Hidden Love. It was the first CDrama I have watched, and I am yet to find another cdrama that can keep me as bewitched by the drama and even the bts. Although the story itself is nothing extraordinary, and there are no real plot-twists etc, the viewer is kept hooked by the sheer chemistry of Chen Zheyuan and Zhao Lusi. Both of them were so beautiful and bewitching, there was no need for anything else. They could have been reading out the recipe to boil potatoes, and we would have been just as hooked. The OST was also chef's kiss. Forever star has become one of those unskippable songs.

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