Hidden Love (2023)

Overall, I think this show has interesting characters that actually attracts people to wanna watch this drama. but i think that the storyline could have been more in depth, given more layers to why or can even say more on how the male lead have eventually just fall in love with the female lead instead of rather suddenly have feeling for the female lead just over an episode of acting. And if only the ending could actually round it off in a better way, probably in a more diverse kinda storyline rather than those usual c-drama, kinda sudden proposal to put the show to an end.

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Breaking My Silence 2.0 (since its edited way below)

I tried. I really did.

I had randomly, one day started a manhua of the same name and did not finish it. Guess the art was not my style. And then I heard Zhao Lusi( I like her) starring in this drama and thought the production would be impeccable.
It was, but that's it.

I like age gap dramas if executed properly, but this drama did not have the magic.
That breathy baby voice of Lusi's had me in tears by the 2nd episode. It was too...juvenile and shallow. Could not feel the chemistry between the leads and had to push myself to complete the 3rd episode in hopes of it getting better.
It didn't. Now I can't even find the motivation to start the 4th episode, it's that serious for me.
I could not feel any personality from the fl and tried to muddle through the experience.

The only saving grace was the brother. Loved him


Edit: Okay so I completed it, never thought I would but I was too bored. The cast is absolutely fabulous and delivers every scene and every action. The pace of the story completely changes after the 8th episode and the chemistry literally melted my screen. I also changed my ratings especially for the cast (fl and ml are terrific) and the etheral ost.
Even if the story is nothing special, the delivery is out if the world.

Ps: I still absolutely LOVE the brother, the highlight if the whole show.

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Overrated May - December Romance

I know the main actors are great in acting but they really annoyed me because rather did not convince me that true lovers vibe. Disappointing how SZ's baby talk, the supposedly 20-year-old role portrayal was not smart, and the plot lines were lacking. Their conversations were a bit immature like listening to teenagers sounding superficial. What I like about SZ is that she was ready to defend him at all costs when he was being bullied by the villainess. What I didn't like about DJX was that he allowed himself to be harassed by the villainess in the early episodes. He could have had a restraining order issued against her. There are no such laws about sins (debts) of a father must be paid by son, in my opinion. I was disappointed that her brother did not have enough character development on the screen. I was really curious about his girlfriend. Real age of DJX is confusing. Their kissing scenes were not swoon worthy at all. Not a good match? chemistry, perhaps casting was a mistake? Not a horrible dram a by any means. Have seen Zhao Lu Si in other romantic dramas but this one didn't give me the vibe. The sibling sister-brother relationship was spot on, glad I admire the brother's acting, Victor Ma did a good job on this. I give the writers credit for that! Dislike flashbacks, story is too slow. I can only give 6.5 rating.

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You can feel the emotion so well

personally I never really watch dramas where the girl and the boy were like siblings and they grew up to fall for each other (ex.21,25. go ahead) but I started to watch this one and I don't regret it one bit!!!! The story is amazing and the way they show the emotions and how their story connects through the OST ,the objects used in the drama and their past is amazing they connect everything together so you know how special their relationship really is and how deep they are into each other's lives all the things the main lead gives to the girl all have a story behind it and how their relationship was at the moment and how it grew (ex.the dog when she was in HS to the bracelet when she was in uni) they show how their relationship grew with such good emotion that it feels like you're the one in their place it's amazing!!!

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LOVE IS IN AIR...

This drama is very refreshing and light weight. it tells the story of a girl who has a crush on his brother's friend. How his crush devlops into love. Here u can see 👀how everyone one is moving forward in their life plus how it is very important to trust someone. Here the ML have some tragic past but FL fully trusts her and protect him. This drama also shows who always looks caring and good also have some inner sadness. ML is just not perfect💯. He started to become perfect because of his past to never be like his father.

In acting literally both the main actors have done the great 👍job. For me chen zheyuan was not new but I'm a big fan of our secret🤫. I loved his eye expression they are just superb. This was the first time i watch zhao lusi I liked her acting very, she really look liked a teenager and ahe was cute. All cast has done quite good job. I like the victor Ma's character the most.

The most beautiful osts for me was
1. I'm falling in love with u
2.i just want to secretly hide u.
3.Be ur light

I can't believe zhao lusi have such a soothing voice I loveed the intro and ending song

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Overrated. I'm disappointed.

I will get to the point. I felt that the ML felt so ingenuine in the beginning. How did he go from "yea, you are my sister" to "I like you" in less than an episode like who what where when how why, I was so confused? Also, it felt like he wasn't taking the relationship serious most of the time (except for the ending) but for the sake of spoiler, I won't include specifics. He was super cocky but I guess that was his character as well.
The sibling relationship and family dynamic of the Sang family was TOP TIER.
I also wished we got to see a little of the friends' relationships and how they were doing. This drama was super centered on just the main couple and I was getting bored of them lol.
THERE IS ALSO A SPECIFIC SCENE WHERE BOTH THE ML AND FL WERE PISSING ME OFF (hint; involved the brother Sang Yan)
I found myself dragging to finish the show and skipping through the parts with the ML and the FL. You might wonder, well why did you even finish the show? ALL FOR ONE CHARACTER. SANG FREAKING YAN.
PLZ PLZ PLZ DIRECTOR PULL A GO GO SQUID AND DO A CONTINUATION OF THIS SERIES FOLLOWING THE LIFE OF SANG YAN AND HIS ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP. In the show he was such a good brother, friend, and son. Like he would always annoy his sister and act mad at her but he was always there for her.
I feel like he would spoil and care for his girl so much but would be protective. UGH GIVE THE MAN A SHOW ASAP. IT WOULD BE SO FUNNY AND SWEET TO SEE HIS RELATIONSHIP.
I was also thinking like a cute, sweet girl for him would be cute to watch but an outgoing girl would be so funny paired with him.

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Feeling conflicted

It was very much a wholesome slice of life/coming of age show driven by characters and not plot. It was a bit slow and dragging at times. The way they handled the age gap thing made me uncomfortable for 90% of it. I thought her being in high school went on for way too long and they got too close for my liking. I would have been much more comfortable with their relationship had he simply been her tutor, not paying much attention to her outside of that and her having a very simple one sided crush on him instead of this brother sister relationship they developed. And also if the timeskip was longer than just 2 years and they had pretty much forgotten about each other until they meet again by coincidence and then fall in love. There‘s just not enough of a difference in maturity between 16 and 18. Everything was the same as it was before and adding to that, she was not a very mature 16-18 year old either.
I also don’t like how quickly DJ accepted not only that he is in love with her but also made the choice to pursue her. I was hoping he‘d be more conflicted and ponder it for longer. I was totally with the brother and thought his initial reaction was very much warranted, but was then disappointed to see him pretty much accept it right away after punching DJ a few times.
It‘s unfortunate bc I liked both actors and characters individually, their chemistry was actually very good too and they had some really sweet moments towards the end. But I was on the fence about them throughout the whole drama.
Overall, it was enjoyable but too many major issues to rate it too highly.

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How To Be There For Someone And Let Them Be There For You!

There is one thing more powerful, captivating, and endearing than one person being there for someone else. It’s when two people are able to be there for each other. This is the hallmark—the foundation—of any true relationship. Relationships are not about what you get out of them, but what you put into them. And any true companion will never ask you to be anything other than who you are. In fact, they won’t encourage you to be anything else.

I doubt there is a person alive who cannot remember their first love. The series does a masterful job of demonstrating the awkwardness as well as the intrigue of first love. It’s new. It’s scary. And it’s also so encompassing that a person can scarcely believe that it’s happening. At the start of the series, Sang Zhi is a young middle school student who quickly finds herself enamored by her brother’s friend, Duan Jia Xu. Despite the fact that he’s five years her senior, it doesn’t matter. As we well know, love defies logic and rationale. Most would quickly define Sang Zhi’s feelings as a crush and nothing more. However, over time, a single seed can grow and blossom, and it soon becomes obvious that this is not a crush.

Sang Zhi isn’t merely captivated by Duan Jia Xu’s looks. She marvels at how well and respectfully he treats her, always being thoughtful, attentive, and willing to help, no matter the situation. Initially Duan Jia Xu sees Sang Zhi as a sister and nothing more. After all, with such an age gap, it’s hard to imagine him seeing her in any other way. But, as people grow older, that gap narrows. It just takes some time; time enough for him to begin seeing her in a new light. Or as Sang Zhi wisely states, “I had to catch up to him.”

Duan Jia Xu is a gentle, hardworking young man who suddenly finds a massive responsibility thrust upon his young shoulders. His father, in a drunken state, is involved in a hit-and-run fatality. Rather than face the consequences of his actions, his father hurls himself off the balcony of their home. However, he doesn’t die, but is in a vegetative state. Bills pile up. Duan Jia Xu’s mother’s body is wracked with cancer. And works multiple jobs to try and pay off the debt that he owes to the family who was affected by the tragedy. In short, he’s forced to grow up very quickly. Despite having Sang Yan’s friendship (Sang Zhi’s hilarious older brother!), Duan Jia Xu feels very much alone. One can’t help but figure that, even at a young age, Sang Zhi gave him a reason to not feel this way. And by the final episode, we are proven right. She is the bright star in his life and always has been.

Sang Zhi is a young, spoiled, and often immature young girl. Her defense mechanism of “playing mind games” with Duan Jia Xu leads her into needless and silly predicaments, such as making up the idea that she has an online boyfriend, hoping to make him jealous. Of course, it backfires, and she often reacts terribly, leading her to jump to conclusions. However, make no mistake. Sang Zhi is a very strong woman who proves to Duan Jia Xu that she is more than capable and fit to be by his side during the most trying of times. In short, she’s exactly the kind of partner any sane man would want. Someone who’s there for you during the lightest and darkest of times. She never hesitates or wavers in her convictions. She is steadfast and acts very much like an anchor. Even when her parents initially disapprove of their dating, it doesn’t sway her. Nothing does.

For the most part, the relationship between Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu is done very well, even when she is given very poor advice from her roommates—most of whom have no clue how to be in a relationship. Sang Zhi often contradicts herself; wanting to be pursued and then reacts immaturely when Duan Jia Xu doesn’t do something or pursues her in a way that she doesn’t understand. She is fortunate enough that Duan Jia Xu’s own love for her is as strong as hers is for him, and he won’t be turned away so easily either. However, there are a few awkward and even puzzling moments after they start their relationship, how often Sang Zhi recoils as attempts of kisses or hugs or even holding hands. This was done a bit too frequently, in my opinion. It reminded me of Sang Zhi’s funny attempt at the high jump in high school when she kept awkwardly stepping forward, then back, and then ran toward the bar only to crash into it. Once she finally gets over her girlish reactions and aversions, things finally begin to settle into a space of normalcy.

This is my first foray into Chinese dramas, and I wasn’t disappointed. Through the first 21 episodes or so, I had this series at an “8” or so. The last few vaulted it to a “10.” Lu Si Zhao got to me when she reacted to her brother after he’d hit Duan Jia Xu. Her tearful reaction of feeling betrayed by someone who was supposed to be on her side, hits full force. The series only got better from there. The airport scene when she follows him back and finally reveals her “secrets” to Duan Jia Xu and letting him know that she will never leave him is incredibly powerful as was their scene together at his mother’s grave. However, the “proposal scene” was done so effectively, that I’ll wager that not many saw that coming. I’m not a fan of having a crowd for a marriage proposal, but seeing all of their loved ones standing around the heart of flowers, and Duan Jia Xu’s heartfelt proposal culminated everything that the series was about.

The chemistry between Lu Si Zhao and Chen Zhe Yuan is undeniable and unmistakable as they make sure that the viewer takes in every single raw feeling and emotion that occurs between them. "Our Beloved Summer" is my all-time favorite romance between young couples. This one is right up there with that one.

So many romantic dramas and movies often leave the viewer actually wondering if a “happy ending” is feasible or if reality will simply prove to be too much and the “happy couple” will eventually dissolve into an ambivalent one. Not this couple! I have no doubt that Duan Jia Xu and Sang Zhi will have a happy and largely fulfilling life together. Why? Because they’ve both realized at a tender young age, the most important thing to do for someone you love is to be there for them and to also let them be who they are. If you’ve lost faith in romance, this series just might help you find it again.

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ONE OF MY COMFORT DRAMA!

The story in this dama is very simple, but the script is very interesting and flows naturally. It's slow but steady, and it's very heart-pounding to watch.

The story is easy to understand and predictable, but also full of little unexpected details. These details make me really appreciate the production team and cast for making this drama!

I didn't know that I could cry over Sangzhi's heartbreak at his first love for Jiaxu, Zhao Lusi's acting here really surprised me. Especially when I saw the changes between Sangzhi as a teenager and as an adult, it was so different.
Even the way they smile is different! I was left gaping again at Zhao Lusi's level of acting.

Chen Zhe Yuan's acting is also good!
This is the first time I've seen the drama. His eyes really speak and this is another small detail that makes the drama more interesting.

Don't forget the ostinato! They're all very imprinted on my ears and I still play them today!

I'm still rewatching this drama and would love any videos about Hidden Love that pop up in my tiktok.

One thing I really miss in this drama is the consistency of Zhao Lusi's hair styling. It seems like it wasn't given enough attention by the stylist because sometimes it's still curly, then it becomes straight again.

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My Forever Comfort drama 2023

On June 2023, I'm watching Yoona and Lee Jun Ho in King the Land. But when I saw the trailer of Hidden Love in Netflix, I start watching this movie and stuck with this movie until now.. I keep repeating and still not finish my last two episode of King the Land.. I felt in love with the actor 1st, but when I watch the movie, the actress also very cute.. I start digging their BTS moment and I found that they were so sweet.. That is also the main reason why I still stuck with this movie.

I hope there will be Hidden Love season 2. I love Chen Zhe Yuan And Zhao Lusi acting so much

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From His Twenty Two Years Old To End Of My Twenty Two Years

This review is after my second rewatch.
Recently I have been experiencing drama slump ( the feeling of seen it all and nothing new ) and suddenly drama shorts started popping up on my feed and I swear the moment I heard " when I passed by ......" , it came all rushing back and with it an uncontrollable urge to rewatch it, so I did and it felt much more better than the first watch, the anticipation and feeling of giddiness for every next scene despite knowing what's going to happen was so exhilarating. Ah! the moment he realised the guy she liked is him ( credit goes to fatty) felt like finally our prayers got answered and then unfolds a love story that is too beautiful, cute, deep and warm that you can't help but immerse yourself in it and then suddenly you realize it's going to end in just 25 episodes and for first time I wished that a cdrama would have more episodes.

So going on with rewiew, drama has a story that feels fresh every time you rewatch ( this is probably highest rating anyone can give to any drama), an unforgettable OST and capability to bring you out of drama slump.

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Tbh, I'm a fan of cheesy romcoms and this one had all the tropes I usually like from this genre, but I don't think it was as good as people out it to be?

Briefly, let me explain.
I understand how the first few episodes she views him the eyes of adoration, but his flirtatious nature was already present from the very beginning and that was really off putting to me. I know some people can have flirtatious personalities, just like he does, but to act like that towards your best friend's sister who is 5 years younger than you? When she's still a minor? Nah I'm sorry but that really threw me off. I'm not screaming pedophelia like some other people here but I still found it a bit weird.
With that being said, they really did have good chemistry. The later episodes were so sweet and they were adorable. Nothing I would say was mind-blowing, but compared to other C-dramas it was pretty good. Their acting wasn't bad, they managed to make scenes which could've been extremely cringy feel fairly natural, I was surprised. But with that being said there were still times where it felt forced. I don't blame the actors per se, more so the script itself felt unnatural. It is fiction, but it felt like a fan novel come to life at times, especially in the dialogue. That made it difficult for the actors to act convincingly 100% of the time. It would go back and forth with natural and non-natural.
Plot wise, nothing special. It's been done before, it's nothing new, they didn't add anything new to it. It made it easier to watch, yes, but I honestly had to skip through some scenes cause nothing really grasped my attention. I gave it a high rewatch value due to it fitting as a comfort show, and the music was nice.

Overall, it was a cute watch. Nothing I would say is special but I understand why people like it. It's easy to watch, they chemistry is nice, and they actors are attractive. But besides that nothing in it made it the masterpiece that some people make it out to be. We all have different opinions, so if you enjoyed it to that extent, I'm happy for you, can't relate though lmao

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