Hidden Love

Most people will feel connected with the Story.

This is my first ever writing Review. I am writing this because I really love it. It's a story about a girl (SZ) and her brother(SY) friend (DJX). She meet him first time when she was 14 years old and he was 19 years old. At first she like him like a elder brother, because she had fight with his own brother everyday, and she want him to be his brother. But when she 17 years old they met again. This 3 years they did not meet each other. She fail in love with him by his care and protection but He has no romantic feelings for her that time. And another 2 years they have no contact with each other. She go to his city and fail for him again and this time she also protects him. And he also find some feeling for her.

Personal I really like this story. I wait for this like 1 years!! And I never waited for any Drama like this one. This is my best watch drama in 2023. And I like everything about this drama like cast, director, scripts, production etc. Overall must watch drama.

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Pure & Sincere Love Story

actually this drama doesn't have a very special storyline, but the love between SZ and DJX has revived this drama and made it special in the hearts of viewers. Their love that is so pure, sincerely develops is an important point in this drama. and of course the acting of the main role and other supporting roles have made this drama special too.

besides the way of love between our main couple, I also like the sense of brotherhood between SY and SZ, even though they often fight but actually they care for each other and love each other.

even the sense of kinship between roommates and college students SZ, DZY and SY in this drama is also very good, there is no intrigue stabbing each other but always together.

i just finished it. 10/10

addendum : SZ's Mom looks very young and beautiful, sometimes like a sister with SZ.

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Speechless

Production - paid a lot of attention to details and set was appropriately in synched with the scenes.
Story - Light and simple that makes viewers reminisce about their youth: first love, family and school. This series madenme feel sorry for not having an older brother to bicker with and love me the way the sibling relationship was shown here.
Directing - well directed, smooth transition of story, stayed faithful to the origonal manhua story. It is well balanced romance, family, friendship and colleague relationship. It isnt just a story about first love but also family dynamics, cultural & societal impacts, relationships, struggles, and much more that were interconnected.
Wardrobe - this isbthe area that is most times producers limit the budget. It throws viewers for a loop when wardrobe doesnt match the scenes [next day or another day scene but same outfit worn by casts]. Appropriate wardrobe shows honest goal of providing best portrayal of story that assist viewers in being able to follow the story.
Artists - the entire casts worked harmoniously together. Zhao Lusi's versatility as an actress got shown here.
I paid for Youku subscription to watch this then found out thisbjs available in Netflix which I already have.
I dont regret it because the series is worth the subscription I paid. It is very good and worth watching. I plan to watch again in Netflix.

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Hidden Love: A Drama of Contradictions

The Chinese drama Hidden Love attempts to weave a narrative of romance and self-discovery but often gets tangled in its own contradictions. At its core, it tells the story of Sang Zhi and her evolving relationship with Duan Jia Xu, her brother’s friend. While the show has its moments of brilliance, it is overshadowed by its uneven character dynamics and questionable romantic framing.

One of the highlights of Hidden Love lies in its portrayal of Sang Zhi when she’s allowed to exist outside of her romantic entanglement. Scenes featuring her at work or interacting with her university friends showcase a capable and well-rounded young woman. These moments provide a glimpse into her potential as a character—confident, relatable, and grounded. Zhao Lu Si’s acting amplifies these moments with remarkable versatility. She has a unique ability to seamlessly navigate between emotions, shifting from joy to despair within a single scene. Her performance in emotional moments, particularly those involving her heartbreak, stands out as some of the drama’s most impactful.

Victor Ma’s portrayal of Sang Zhi’s brother, Sang Yan, is another strong point. The sibling relationship feels authentic, capturing the blend of rivalry and deep care that defines many sibling bonds. Sang Yan’s role as both a protector and someone Sang Zhi can be vulnerable with adds depth to their dynamic. The airport scene, where Sang Zhi breaks down in his arms after a painful heartbreak, is a testament to the emotional strength of their bond and remains one of the drama’s most memorable moments. It’s rare to see a sibling relationship portrayed with such nuance, and Victor Ma’s performance anchors these moments with sincerity. The drama’s soundtrack also deserves praise, with its catchy and well-placed OSTs enhancing many key scenes.

However, the strengths of Hidden Love are often undermined by its central romantic storyline. Chen Zheyuan’s portrayal of Duan Jia Xu as the male lead is underwhelming, lacking the charisma or depth needed to carry his character. Jia Xu himself is difficult to relate to—overly controlling, possessive, and prone to jealousy. These traits make him less of a romantic ideal and more of a cautionary figure. His dynamic with Sang Zhi is particularly troubling, as he continues to treat her like a younger sister even after they begin dating. This lingering brother-sister dynamic casts an uncomfortable shadow over their romance, making it hard to invest in their relationship.

The five-year age gap between the leads is not inherently problematic, but Jia Xu’s behavior exacerbates the discomfort. Having known Sang Zhi since her childhood, his inability to shift his perception of her from a child to a partner feels unsettling. It’s as if the drama is trying to force a romance without addressing the fundamental mismatch in their dynamic. This issue is compounded by Sang Zhi’s characterization around Jia Xu. While she’s shown to be articulate and mature in other settings, her behavior around Jia Xu regresses into exaggerated cutesiness and awkward stuttering. It’s a disservice to Zhao Lu Si’s talent, reducing her character to a caricature when she’s capable of so much more.

The romantic scenes between the leads suffer as a result. Instead of chemistry, there’s a persistent sense of dissonance, as if the characters are trapped in roles they can’t escape. Sang Zhi’s infantilized behavior and Jia Xu’s condescending attitude make it hard to root for them as a couple. The narrative’s failure to transition their dynamic from a brother-sister relationship to an equitable partnership leaves the romance feeling forced and unconvincing.

Ultimately, Hidden Love struggles to find its footing. Its strengths in sibling dynamics, emotional performances, and music are overshadowed by a central romance that fails to resonate. For viewers who can overlook the uncomfortable framing of the leads’ relationship, there’s a baseline romance story here. However, for those who can’t get past the persistent brother-sister dynamic and lack of authentic chemistry in the main couple, the drama’s flaws become impossible to ignore.

Hidden Love leaves much to be desired, despite its occasional moments of brilliance. The inability to convincingly shift the leads’ dynamic and the wasted potential of its talented cast weigh heavily on the drama.

A 5.5/10 feels apt for a show that sparks moments of promise but ultimately fails to deliver on its central premise.

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Enchanting fairytale

Once in a while, a simple rom-com can be more satisfying to watch than an elaborate expensive costume dramas. This is exactly what happens here. Who would have thought that the summer 2023 will have a surprise mega hit in the form of a simple rom-com that was adapted and executed beautifully. Going against the high profile costume dramas this summer, this simply stood out due to excellent acting , visuals and charisma of the leads.

No doubt, this will become a classic as evidence of its high rewatch value and relationship goals.

Get ready to laugh and cry and experience butterflies and be enchanted with this cute fairytale.

Highly recommended

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is it love ?

sometimes people's wild imagination can be creepy and when you read their comments or watch their reviews, it effect your experience as a viewer too. this is my review , hope it help you and clear your head so you enjoy watching such a beautiful wholesome story.

1- ( FL persona )
not every teenager act the same as you. FL is an introverted teenager but she is smart and doesn't hesitate when she wants to make a decision. i completely feel her cause i have similar behavior pattern but you may not. the way you talk and act at 14 is different than at 20, and you can act differently in front of your friends ,family or your crush (which is well portrayed in this drama).

2- ( chemistry and shipping )
if you don't feel any chemistry between leads by ep 8, well you are not supposed to. story is about a teenager who had a crush on an adult and after she go uni and met the guy again ,the guy fall for her. some of us are fan of actors and we were here before the drama air so it's obvious that we are shipping them more than you cause we saw the bts of this drama month ago.

3- ( age gap )
ML is 5 years older than FL . ML fell in love when the FL was an adult . it shows in story when he fell in love and why. he was not her neighbor and he was not grew up with her . ML was her brothers friend who lived and worked in dorm and THEN in another city , he did not know that FL loved her. you see clearly the way He act when She is minor, when She is an adult and in uni, when He start to falling for her and when He wanna pursue her. it's all clear in the drama . it doesn't seem creepy to me at all. ( and tbh 5 years is nothing )

4 - this is a very simple story. doesn't have messy or dumb plot to it . everything go smoothly and if there is a problem ,they handle it quick. so if you love messy drama, this drama ain't for you. this drama has simple plot and logic to it .
so for me it is love and it's a very sincere and healthy couple .

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The kind that will make you have butterflies

If you're wondering and going through the review to see if you should watch this series or not, then without a second thought, dive into it. You'll fall in love with the characters, Sang Zhi as a whole will be someone you'll relate to because like her we have all had crushes in our school life , whom we kept to ourselves , we admired , respected them from a distance knowing that they can never be ours 😭😭 🥺

Duan Zixu is one of the greeenest flag someone can ever be 🥺💜
So trust me , you won't regret it 💜 I didn't, and I have waited for it to finish to bingewatch at once 🥺💜

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The wait is all worth it

Just finished watching. I cannot believe it, from the day lusi & zheyuan was announced as the leads, when I was waiting for reuters previews of them filming and now the show is finished and I have watched the whole show. I am very happy, it is all worth it.

I just wanna talk about how Lusi and Zheyuan portrayed their characters greatly. I've been saying & commenting on zheyuan dramas that why he's one of my top chn actor is because he is an 'Effective Actor', he makes sure to convey his character's feelings through the camera. If he's happy we feel it, if he's in love we see it on his face/his nuances, when he's sad we feel his pain. I really like how he cry, actually this might be weird, but I've said it before since Our Secrets, he cries so naturally you know that? Like he's not afraid to show the 'Real' crying face of a man, setting aside his manly features, he cries and we see the character's hurt in his face. He's also an eye candy (oh god), the camera love his face.

And my girl, Zhao Lusi. She did it again. She nailed another great character. I like how Zhi is a mix of timid-quirky girl. The show in the first half let us see the world through the lens of a girl who has enough love to give. She's kind and smart. I love how all through the episodes we get to see that she's a strong person, that she can also protect her loved ones. Lusi gives us the perfect portrayal of the transition that happened to Zhi from being a highschool kid to a lady.

I cannot praise this show enough, the other characters are also great esp Sangyan. The OST is top tier and the script is also good. I wish I could see Lusi & Zheyuan in another drama again because their chemistry is off the roof. They really made a fan's (me) heart really happy. I'm gonna miss them so much🥹 But for now i hope Zhi & Jiaxu is happy in dramaland.

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How many times did I watch this? Yes.

Maybe it’s the influx of complicated, dark dramas (cue: Celebrity, Glory) but this was such a refreshing watch. I fell in love with Sang Zhi and Jia Xu.

One word to describe the drama: Simple.

It was so simple, it was simply about a puppy love crush turning into a deep love.

I cried when Sang Zhi cried at the airport. Both times. I smiled all the time at the TV. There was no big villain, no big road block. Even when there were small stumbles, it was so quickly resolved and so well resolved. No weak delivery AT ALL.

I would love to write more about this drama but it was so simple with nothing to complain about.

Can’t wait for Sang Yan’s own love story.

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Very interesting

The best CDrama ever

No. 1 in MDL for top C-Dramas and overall (even beating out K-dramas)! Hidden Love is getting all the love it deserves! 💗

For those who are still wondering or hesitating to watch this drama, just give it a try! It has a good storyline (nothing very stressful), lots of heartwarming scenes, nice visuals (Zhao Lu Si's clothes here are pretty and looks good on her!), beautiful soundtrack (Forever Star is especially written for this drama), superb acting (even the micro-expressions of the leads are spot-on), perfect chemistry between the main leads and even the supporting cast (sibling chemistry between Zhao Lu Si and Victor Ma, which we often don't get from dramas), and I don't know what else to say to convince you, the rankings don't lie! I will definitely miss waiting for new episodes to come. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Hidden Love! ❤️

The chemistry between the leads was beyond doubt amazing .I loved their natural and unforced Interactions, I love the comfort I got from their relationship I love how their relationship was far from toxic but health and admirable 🤍

The osts were beautiful and reflected the story and the Cinematography was to die for.

Overall this was a nice ride..I roller coaster of many emotions and I must say I'll miss this drama so much.

I do recommend this...if you want something light and fluffy

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