First Love
This is the first cdrama I've seen and the one that got me into watching more cdramas. Before this i would only watch kdrama. I've have always thought cdrama was way too long with their 20+ episodes. I truly love Zhao Lusi's visuals and acting. At first i thought the show might be a little creepy. Considering the age gap, but the way the story progressed made it not creepy at all. Great show for those who like first love trope. Im a sucker for puppy love. So it was a 10 for me. Great acting by all actores involved. Story was great beside the stalker part.Was this review helpful to you?
Just really well written and acted - watch it!
I don't want do burden you with a long review, but I just wanted to note that this series is really, really good. The story is good and keeps your interest. What, for me, makes this shine so much is the casting and acting. They just nailed it! Everyone was great and if it weren't for the stellar acting I think the mood of the series could have made it drag. The fact that the slow evolution of the love of the leads pulled you in was a testimony to the writing and acting and directing.Chen Zhe-Yuan was great. Tender yet emotive. His concerns for the FL felt so genioune and never creepy (due to the age gap).
Zhao Lu-Si was absolutely fantastic. She is a genius - able to portray the emotions of a first crush, from high school through college, in a very believable way. I can't imagine anyone doing a better job than she did.
Truly one of the best CDramas I've watched.
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Fluffy, sweet and definitely a comfort drama for those who need a break from daily life
Loved every single thing about this drama (I am originally a fan of the novel and manhua, but I love this story in every version/format). They made ML a bit softer & FL a bit more mature compared to the novel, but I didn't mind it since the core of their characters stayed the same, as well as their deep love for each other. The first 8 episodes are a bit boring to get through since it's just showing FL's innocent teen crush on ML when she was young (just wish they used an older child actress to portray 14-year-old FL), so there wasn't anything beyond a precious found family bond between them, obviously. But once she becomes an adult (mid-ep 8), the pace of the story finally picks up & takes you on a sweet but deep ride of first love between 2 people who are each other's first, last, and only everything. Some people might think that this type of love is unrealistic, but I would say that it's just rarer in real life, which makes it more precious (I have been fortunate enough to witness some genuinely pure couples like this). Sang Yan and DJX were both called the Twin Dogs of Nanwu University since they always stuck together (Ep 1). To be precise, SY's symbol is a dog (even in First Frost's novel) because of his loyalty & overprotection (SZ even compares him to the black dog when she was 17 & has his contacts saved as "silly dog"), while DJX is a fox because of his sly, intelligent, flirty/nice facade (he is smart and hides his true self behind flirty jokes), but they are both technically "dogs aka canines." These 2 dogs are SZ's loyal protectors: her bio brother & her "brother"/boyfriend/husband.ML feels inferior & has lots of self-doubt, so he never pursues bonding with anyone outside of his friends in any other way (even if his boss tried to set him up on blind dates, he remained distantly polite/formal). He preferred to be a workaholic & studious person since no one could accept his dad's crime/family tragedy/debts, thus he also never felt brave enough to even be with anyone in any way until FL's encouraging & unyielding love warmed his self-doubt. That's why it could only ever be Sang Zhi for Duan Jiaxu, no matter what. Friendship gave him support, but only Sang Zhi's pure love could fully open up a pure-hearted person like Duan Jiaxu and unleash his true, romantically clingy, shameless self, who no longer feels scared to be who he is with her by his side. He is a bit more emotionally reclusive/moodier in the novel (but I kinda love how mean he is to his stalker and anyone who tries to come between Sang Zhi & him if you read the extra chapters, you already know what I am talking about) but in both versions, his love is so apparently clear-- he always feels like he wanted to marry her since the moment they got together because he already knew Sang Zhi is the one he wanted to spend every life event with forever. The drama version showed a more emotional Duan Jiaxu who always cried openly with Sang Zhi, but both versions had clear communication once they were adults, so I think their relationship is healthy & cute since they both strive to talk through potential misunderstandings almost immediately. As someone who hates love rivals/love triangles along with long, unnecessary misunderstandings, this drama checked all the right boxes for me-- each other's first/only everything without others interfering & healthy fast communication to leave plenty of room for sugary fluff. Even after watching it 5 times, I never get sick of it & find myself coming back to this drama every couple of months, so it has solidified its place as one of my top comfort dramas.
Additionally, I want to sincerely thank Zhao Lusi, who took the lead in making this drama happen even after the original director gave up on it for styling the characters herself (huge upgrade from what it was), inviting her real friends as cast, singing the OSTs & for being the perfect Sang Zhi. Chen Zheyuan also did a great job as Duan Jiaxu & I don't think anyone else could have done better in that role (the man's eyes can ACT). The entire cast was amazing (Sang Yan aka Victor Ma in Hidden Love will always have my heart).
For the things people have issues with:
FL may have fallen first a bit too early, but ML definitely fell when it was the right time for both of them, which made their age gap appropriately portrayed. FL's crush on him was innocent and relatable to everyone who had a crush in their teens. Some people have a hard time with how he knew her when she was young, but they only occasionally saw each other and were separated for many years till she became an adult, so I don't really see an issue since he saw her as his "found-family," like he saw Sang Yan (FL's big bro/ML's best friend). As a found-family member, I didn't find it odd that he had her picture from his graduation next to his mom's & college friends' pictures. Also, some people may find ML's flirty lines a bit too much but my impression from reading the novel 4 times is that he does so only jokingly (which is why he flirts with his male friends too) and another reason is so that he is not be seen by others as a bad person like his dad if he portrays himself as a kind/helpful/nice to everyone persona even though he does still keep a emotional polite distance from everyone (since he feel inferior due to his family's debt/dad's crime which people fault him for just because he is the son). It's like he purposely plays "nice guy" as an emotional shield so that people don't see him as a bad guy like his dad, but by not showing his true feelings (Ch 50: the scene in the novel when his teacher criticizes his bad character when he fights with Jiang Ying after she pushes him down the stairs in school & then he thinks to himself that he should always be smiling/good to everyone/non-threatening to not be compared to his father), he keeps people at a distance. It's only in those moments when he shows his coldness/unhappiness that he is his true self. He was always looking for a life-long partner (his dating intentions are always only with marriage in mind due to his strong sense of responsibility. He even always hints at marriage to SZ - Ex. "This might be the only relationship you will ever have." + Ch 81, he even signs property over to SZ), so until he was able to meet someone who could accept his true self, he wouldn't be with anyone/willing to be alone his whole life (which is why when SZ comforted DJX after Jiang Ying splashed him with water, he fell for SZ or at least realized his feelings). I believe that it wasn't until the hospital scenes that he even saw her as an adult who was capable of taking the lead & caring for him which eventually grew his feelings till the realization after the water splash scene.
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This review may contain spoilers
you know what? i get the hype. i get why this is so popular and all. i just saw this on my news feed on facebook and i usually dont watch cdramas but this one got me hooked. the characters, and girrrrrrl the FL was so pretty. everything was wholesome and cute. their age gap wasnt that big tbh, but what weirded me out was maybe because when they showed the young FL character at the beginning and how her crush (ML) was the same actor up until they grew up and became a couple like ??? it looked like the ML during the FL college days was wayyyyy too old. if maybe they changed the ML actor when he's still in hs or college it might make a difference but idk its just my opinion. its still a good drama though. i really loved it and been rewatching it. Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan are perfect together. The chemistry, the acting, the visuals, all of it was amazing. The beginning with Sang Zhi as a kid and crushing on Duan Jiaxu (who wouldn't), leading to her growing up and him actually falling for the adult her (no, he is not a pervert) and as well as the family's acceptance along with her brother's acceptance despite the age gap (it's not even that big five years is nothing). I read another review saying Duan Jiaxu is a walking green flag: I wholly agree. The care he shows for her and the absolute picture of a healthy relationship is entombed within this drama. 100% recommend. Was this review helpful to you?
This feels like a warm hug.
Hidden Love is one of those dramas that feels soft, comforting, and unforgettable at the same time. From the very first episodes, it creates a warm atmosphere that makes every interaction feel meaningful. The story balances romance, family dynamics, emotional growth, and healing in a way that feels natural instead of overly dramatic. It easily became one of my favorite dramas because of how emotionally genuine and comforting it is.What makes Hidden Love special is that even the quieter moments feel important. Small gestures, conversations, and expressions carry emotional weight, making the romance feel sincere and believable.Many scenes feel memorable because of how subtle they are. The eye contact, quiet support, and small moments of affection often say more than dramatic declarations.
Hidden Love is more than just a romance drama — it is a comforting coming-of-age story about love, timing, emotional growth, and feeling understood by someone. It is the kind of drama that stays with you after finishing it.
For me, it deserves a full 5/5 stars because of its emotional sincerity, lovable characters, beautiful romance, and comforting atmosphere. It is one of my favorite dramas and one I would absolutely rewatch.
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When the girl wants a specific man and goes after him before she even knows it
I’ll admit, I initially put off watching "Hidden Love" for almost a year. I first stumbled over “The First Frost" on Netflix while it was still airing. I clicked on it on a whim, and the cinematography drew me in. After finishing up The First Frost, I found out it was a spinoff of "Hidden Love”. I decided to start “Hidden Love” right after. But I can be a bit snobby when I watch a drama with really good cinematography. I'm looking for something of the same quality if I'm in the mood, so the difference in cinematography was actually what made me bench “Hidden Love” for a while.I moved on to something else and then when I was out of all the quality dramas to watch, I decided to go back and give “Hidden Love another try mostly because I also liked Chen Zhe Yuan’s acting in Fated Hearts I watched last month.
Zhao Lu Si needs no introduction. I've seen her in a number of other works, and she's just so versatile – equally skilled at both comedy and more emotional, dramatic scenes. And that talent really shines through in her portrayal of Sang Zhi.
Now, I will say, the beginning of the story can be quite slow because we only get to see what Sang Zhi is experiencing and it's mostly pining after Duan Jia Xu for nearly 8 episodes. We don't really get to know Duan Jia Xu better until later in the drama.
Now, I'm also going to say that creating a romance story, where one of the characters is still a minor at the beginning of it, needs to be done very carefully because it can easily become icky.
We first meet Sang Zhi as a teenage girl who’s developing a crush on her older brother's friend. She is still in middle school while her crush is in college. But the writers handled that part really well, making sure there were no inappropriate reciprocated feelings or behavior from Duan Jia Xu while she was still a minor. He treats her as a little sister.
As the story progresses, we really get to see Sang Zhi's character develop and mature, transitioning from that spoiled, indecisive teenage girl with an obsession into a strong, assertive young woman who knows exactly what she wants.
In short, Sang Zhi is so mommy-coded and wifey-material even as a minor, it’s adorable. The way she offers money and help to Duan Jia Xu, the way she sneaks it into his wallet while at the airport, the way she takes care of him at the hospital or the way she returns that glass of water at the restaurant scene—it’s just swoony. She becomes a strong and emotionally intelligent young woman who stands up for herself and for her man.
And Zhao Lu Si absolutely nails that emotional journey.
The more we learn about Duan Jia Xu’s backstory, the more depth and complexity his character takes on. This guy has been through some serious trauma, yet he still manages to put on a cheerful, responsible front, especially in front of Sang Zhi. He slips just once in her presence before his departure right after college graduation.
He is a strong, resilient kind of guy who does not want to burden others with his problems. And I think with everything that has been happening in his life, it's very admirable that he manages to remain a decent, caring, and responsible person.
Now let's talk about acting. The two leads just absolutely killed it, especially in those gut-wrenching emotional scenes. I'll admit, I even got a little teary-eyed at a couple of points – which is saying a lot, since I'm not usually one to cry during dramas.
Special mention is the airport scene in episode seven, and then another airport scene at the end of the drama when they are already grown-ups.
One thing I really appreciated about "Hidden Love" is the lack of unnecessary side characters and their storylines. So often, dramas try to cram in too much, and it ends up slowing down the pacing. But here, it's really just focused on the central romance between Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu, and I think that works so much better.
Yes, of course, we have supporting cast. We have the parents and the brother and then we have her college girlfriends and his college friends. But they are only in the drama to do exactly what they're supposed to be doing—support our leads in their journey. They are given just enough screen time to make us understand what's happening with them, but they are not really slowing down the pace. I think it's also one of the reasons why this show is so highly rated.
Some of the things that really stood out to me is the banter between the leads and their friend group(s). It was hilarious. Those group gathering scenes were always a delight. Some of the jokes were ridiculously on point. The acting in those scenes was just natural.
I also wanted to share my thoughts on the age gap. To me, the age gap between the leads, especially when Sang Zhi went to college, didn't seem all that drastic. I understand that in the context of them being at different places in their lives when the story started, it really does matter. But I was almost wondering why the parents were exaggerating about the fact that he was older once she started college and became of legal age. But again, that's just me. Others may have different ideas so it's whatever works for you.
I want to talk about the chemistry because it's obvious that the chemistry is there. Both Chen Zhe Yuan and Zhao Lu Si are very talented and capable of giving us exactly what the characters are feeling.
Overall, "Hidden Love" is the kind of slow-burning romance that I can really get behind. It's got depth, it's got heart, it’s got a green flag male lead and it's got a female lead, who knows exactly what—or who—she wants and isn't afraid to go after it—or him. If you're in the mood for a sweet, uncomplicated love story without all the typical drama clichés, this one is definitely worth checking out. It's one of the better ones I've seen in a long time and I really can't find a single flaw in it.
It'll give you butterflies without doubt.
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The only drama I keep rewatching. The pure romance story in every moment.
I finished Hidden Love ages ago but never got around to writing a review, mostly out of laziness.Over the weekend, I rewatched it again and once more I found myself completely falling in love with the drama. Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it.
The storyline may be simple without big twists or dramatic peaks but every moment is beautifully shot.
Just watching the sweet and ordinary love between sang zhi and duan jiaxu perfectly fulfills my romantic imagination of what it feels like to fall in love.
So far, this is the only drama I can confidently rate a solid 10. Nothing else has surpassed it for me.
I truly hope another drama will come along that makes my heart flutter in every moment even in something as simple as the way the leads look at each other just like in Hidden Love.
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A must watch
My favourite cdrama of all time!!! Where to begin! The story is a ten out of ten! I was completely wrecked after finishing the drama , couldn’t move on for days. It’s such a beautiful story !It’ll make you believe in love, and the healing power of love. I love how steadfast Sang Zhi was in her love for Dian Jiaxu, but also how he reciprocated her love and always did his best to show up for her and take care of her. It’s beautiful to see how even in a world where he didn’t have much going on, he was able to find somebody to love him as he was and remind him that he has value.
Another added bonus is the relationship between the Sang siblings. Most iconic siblings of all time ! I loved their bickering and also genuine love for each other. It was so funny to watch !!!!!
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love it..
there are very few dramas that has everything at par, hidden love is one such drama, the story, the cast, the music everything is so good. the chemistry between the lead obviously is top notch and definitely the talk of the town, but the bond shown between the siblings is so beautifully explored. one such drama, where you don't complaint about anything rather just go with the flow, you laugh with duan xiazu, you cry when he is hurt, you are smiling when sang zhi heals his pain, his traumas, you root for them till the end.. I can keep talking about them, I can watch hidden love 1000 times over thats how much I love this show.Was this review helpful to you?
10000/10
Such a gem of a drama.. the way I immediately rewatched the drama after completing it.. my god, it was a drlight to watch this drama… also the way I didn’t want the drama to end like I was on ep 12 and was already whining that not much is left, why couldn’t it be long like costume dramas … so damn goodEveryone played their character so well, I’m amazed..
Talking abt the leads, their visuals? So easy on the eyes, such a good looking couple and one of the most beautiful chemistry hands down
ML was the epitome of green flag, despite the trauma, he was so damn kind and sweet even before he was in love.. but holy hell ML after being in love was something else, so damn loving… oh to be loved like that, sang zhi is so damn lucky …. Talking abt FL, she was damn spot on in her love… I love love love how being the younger one, she was more fierce than ML esp when it came to protecting him… like u can’t mess with her man, nope ….i love such female leads who puts equal effort and is equally protective of her love … I still can’t get over them, my new comfort drama, gonna rewatch it again and again
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A Drama That Broke My Heart in the Best Way
I love this show!! Hidden Love is one of my favorites, and Zhao Lusi is one of my favorite actresses. I love the chemistry between the ML and FL, and I also love how this drama shows that love takes time.I felt so bad for the FL when she thought the ML had a girlfriend—her tears broke my heart into pieces. I do think she made a healthy choice by trying to move on, but I don't think cutting him off completely was the best decision. Still, it all worked out in the end.
The ML also really touched my heart, especially when he was working and started crying. I just wanted to hug him, especially when he was heartbroken over his dad’s death. It really tugged at my heartstrings.
However, the stalker-like character who kept blaming him for his father’s mistakes made me so angry. She clearly needed help, and I’m glad the FL pointed out that she was mentally unwell.
Other than that, this drama was so cute and heartwarming. It shows how love can develop in the most unexpected places. I also loved the family aspect—especially her brother and parents. It made the show even better. I love how it shows strong family bonds and how family tries to understand each other even when they disagree.
I also really enjoyed the sibling dynamic. Even though they acted like they hated each other, it was very funny and realistic. They did a great job portraying it.
Overall, this was a great drama!!!!
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