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2 puppies in love!
This is the perfect drama if you are looking for "feel good" series. It is overloaded with sweetness and pure moments between 2 very "nice" people.
Plot: a naive girl falls in love with her brother's best friend. Being 5 years younger than him, they find themselves in different stages of life, but when she becomes an adult they finally get the chance to be together.
This is a very sweet story but and it's fame is well deserved but of course nothing is perfect.
First point: I feel that adding the scenes of a middle school FL added nothing to the story, but made it a bit weirder. Why? Just why? If they met when she was already in highschool would have been better.
Second point: this is my first drama with Zhao lusi and I can confidently say her fame is well deserved. She is amazing and very believable. The main "beef" I have is with her character.
She is frankly one dimensional. Except for being in love with this guy there isn't much else. I am not even quite sure what she studies at university. School days are basically non existing.
Third point: why did they have to make the ml such a miserable guy. The amount of trauma this guy went through... I know the drama wants to make two opposite face each other (they guy who had a hard life and the sheltered princess) but this doesn't really work. Even though he went through so much he is heavenly sweet just like the FL who didn't face a single struggle in her life.
Fourth point : this is not really a point but just a preference. At the very beginning I thought the FL was playing a more childish voice to create a contrast between her character as a teenager and her character as an adult... I quickly realized that is just the way she speaks😅. I know that China probably has some sort of sweet spot for aegyo like in Korea.. but man.. sometimes it is hard to listen to a 20 something years old girl like a child. That's nobody a fault. It's just the actress way of speaking. No big deal.
Talking about positives: the actors have such good chemistry. They really feel like a real couple.
Going back to negatives : I am currently at episode 20... Ok I love their story, but this entire series is only based on their love story. Nothing else is happening. It's starting to be a bit boring...
Finally over.
Definitely a good drama, worth watching but only if you really like romance cause there isn't anything else in here.😅
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Simple things are always best!
A simple, sweet story of growth and love, created with care and that makes you fall in love with the characters and hope for "happily ever after". Sometimes the simplest and most meticulously crafted stories are the most beautiful. The cast made this sweet story phenomenal! I love Zhao Lu Si as a person and actress, she is always stellar, she makes you fall in love with each of her characters.Was this review helpful to you?
Worth it ❤️
The story is just perfect. I love the development of the plot. The scenes are very simple yet it invokes so much emotion. I also like the fact that there is no dull moment nor toxic parts. The story does not only gives entertainment but it also gives lessons. Like how the characters build their own self, there’s self-love, there’s patience, there’s hope. The story is really nice and i don’t want to spoil it.The casts and their acting is FRENCH KISS💋💋 They are so talented and very natural. Especially the female lead both her kid and adult version. I also love the dynamics between their siblings relationship. Everything about the cast is just so pretty, natural, and VEERRYYY talented. Just imagine how thier subtle smiles or movements looks so natural 🥹 Gossssshhh, I so want to hug her in her middle school airport scene, that scene is so impactful that I totally felt her what she felt that time, very relatable. The story is nice but I must say that because of the casts, the story was brought to so much life.
OSTs are so cute that it feels well to the scenes. I must say that they chose prefectly well the osts for this series.
Overall, I will definitely recommend this 🥹❤️
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A Simple Story That Created Magic❤️❤️❤️
Hidden Love is proof that a drama doesn’t need a complicated storyline, huge plot twists, or massive production to become a masterpiece. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple story told with sincerity and heart with the right cast. This drama hit all the right spots and created something truly magical. It’s amazing how such a simple story could leave such a huge impact and stay with people for years.I love this drama so much! The characters felt so real that they made me believe they exist somewhere in another world. Even now, I still think about them and imagine their lives. Three years later, I am still stuck in my Hidden Love era.
What makes this drama so special is how genuine everything feels. The family dynamics, the sibling bond, and especially the relationship between Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi all feel natural and authentic. They don’t feel like fictional characters,they feel like real people. Their love story is pure, comforting, and beautifully written, and I can’t help but wish them endless happiness.
I love Duan Jiaxu and Sang zhi so much!! 😍😍😍. They bring me so much joy, and watching them together always makes me smile. The warmth, care, and respect they share make their relationship one of the most beautiful I’ve seen on screen. I truly wish everyone could experience a love like theirs.
I keep rewatching this drama, and it never gets old. No matter how many times I watch it, it brings the same happiness and comfort. I’ve never been this attached to a drama or rewatched one so many times. But Hidden Love is different,it’s a story I could revisit endlessly and still fall in love with again.
For me, Hidden Love is more than just a drama. It’s a comfort, a happy place, and a story that will always have a special place in my heart. The fact that such a simple story could create such deep emotions and leave such a lasting impact is what makes it truly special.
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Hidden First Love
Hidden Love is a sweet romance that captures the magic and vulnerability of falling in love for the first time. With its soft atmosphere, lovable leads, and heartfelt storytelling, this drama feels like a comforting memory you want to hold on to.The story follows Sang Zhi, a bright and somewhat awkward high school girl, and Duan Jiaxu, her older brother’s friend. What starts as a quiet crush gradually grows into something deeper, and the drama carefully traces their relationship over several years. It’s not rushed, not overly dramatic, but instead focused on small moments—glances, shared silences, and emotional growth.
One of the drama’s biggest strengths is its atmosphere. The cinematography is warm and nostalgic, almost dreamlike at times. The pacing is relaxed, which might feel slow to some, but it works beautifully for a story built on unspoken feelings and growing trust. The OST (original soundtrack) also adds to the overall feeling, matching the tone perfectly.
Zhao Lusi as Sang Zhi is incredibly charming, capturing the innocence and uncertainty of young love. Chen Zheyuan plays Duan Jiaxu with a calm, steady presence that slowly reveals more emotional depth as the story unfolds. Their chemistry feels natural, never forced, and the age gap is handled with sensitivity and care.
Beyond the romance, Hidden Love also explores themes like family relationships, personal growth, and emotional healing. It doesn’t rely on dramatic twists, but instead lets the characters grow organically. It’s a story about timing, patience, and the quiet ways people come to care for each other.
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The standard
Ok without question I’ve watched 8 years or more of K Dramas, absolute best shows one can watch, never saw a Chinese drama to write about or rewatch, The Hidden Love has set the total mark of either K Drama or C dramas, at least in the Romantic Comedy type, They cannot do a. Enter Rewatch drama it has it all, and has made me very aware now of how much the Chinese has gained in movie making so Americans don’t have to worry But K Drama you better take notice.Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
Healing dramas
For this drama I'll give 9 out of 10 since the plot isn't that bad and not overhyped. I get it why, their chemistry is chef kiss and what I love the most is the relationship love-hate siblings between Sang Yan and Sang Zhi.Literally the definition of siblings 😂😂
I'll look forward to other Zhu Yi's Universe.
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"HIDDEN LOVE is resilience, honesty, care, and timeless love."
This drama really deals with the tragedies of young first love in such a sweet, respectful manner that it's so refreshing to see. The drama hits off with absolutely lovely writing of Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi. Their chemistry is on par with actual real-life couples, and especially how the age gap is treated here is so sweet and brilliant. I think the drama emphasizes this by constantly reminding the audience of the differences in Zhizhi and Jiaxu's environments, and also the different pressures for example, when Jiaxu had to cancel the dates because of what he said were "trivial life matters," but in reality there were true problems with him being the man, showing that it was his fault, and Zhizhi being the woman respecting that while also asking him if it was really okay. The number of times Sang Zhi showed what falling in love means is to stand up for love when times get hard, with Jiaxu reciprocating the same, supporting her. The prejudice of others about their age gap, the very real worries of parents about their children dating, and whether Zhizhi and Jiaxu were really honest with themselves about their feelings are all explored.It shows what it is like when you support someone endlessly and do not doubt the person you love. In this case, the story of Jiaxu's family history and the Sang family knowing it and questioning it, and how Sang Zhi comes forward truly and maturely with a tender heart about liking him for a long time, is shown in a very true manner: first being just an infatuation, then when Zhi reaches a certain age realizing it may be a crush, and then the story kicks off to the "hidden love." The show doesn't undercut when it comes to choosing or having to make decisions, with Zhi enrolling in Yihe University and then having an internship, which matters not just for love but also for personal growth both Zhi's feelings and career, and Jiaxu's feelings and career. The parents show concern and take steps like confiscating phones and making time to be at home for Zhi, having Yang pick her up, actually video calling her in college days, and everything in between. The college days are shown very truly: friends, school bullying, college tests, and seminars.
Very mature characters, both Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu, show respect for their original concerns about being together, from consent questions like "Can I hold your hand?" to "Do you want to...?" to showing menstruation problems, predatory relationship issues, and putting dreams and family health relationships first. Zhi smartly takes on the pressure of the problems given by the debtor's family while supporting Jiaxu's feelings of "You've done your part; she can't bully you forever; it's not your fault." Very lovely, both Jiaxu and Zhizhi, and the hard-hitting line "Am I really getting too old? Why are my parents no longer here?" just encapsulates everything in one line. Then Zhizhi embraces him and tells him, "I've got you," showing he has a home, a family that will love him.
The drama is very well written and exceptionally adapted, with incredible acting and a lovely cast. No fake drama, no plot twists just real, mature, cared for, true first love. Zhizhi had to hide it for a long time the treasure of "HIDDEN LOVE is resilience, honesty, care, and timeless love." That's the brilliance of this show.
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Pure Perfection and Heartwarming Chemistry: A 10/10!
Hidden Love (2023) is a spectacular, high-budget modern romance drama that has completely taken the world by storm. It is a beautiful, gentle, and emotionally gripping coming-of-age story that delivers pure dopamine and massive rewatch value.Story (10/10):The plot is an absolute masterpiece of the slow-burn genre. It follows a young girl who develops a secret crush on her older brother's close friend, and traces their relationship as they grow up and reconnect years later. The narrative is refreshingly healthy, avoiding toxic tropes, evil second leads, or forced family dramas. Instead, it focuses entirely on mutual respect, deep care, and a natural transition from friendship to a deeply passionate, warm love story that leaves your heart completely full.Acting & Cast (10/10):Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan delivered phenomenal, career-defining performances with electric on-screen chemistry. While fans of more ruthless or 'bad boy' male leads might find the main hero to be a bit too sweet and overly gentle, his fierce protectiveness and devotion are still undeniable. The absolute star of the show is Zhao Lusi. She brings immense depth, innocence, and vulnerability to Sang Zhi. Her emotional acting—especially during the scenes where she suffers from heartbreak—is so raw and genuine that it easily moves you to tears.Overall:Hidden Love is a mandatory watch for anyone who appreciates exceptional character growth, a healthy relationship, and a romance that will completely steal your heart. Driven by an elite performance from Zhao Lusi and top-tier production, it is a flawless comfort show that you will want to rewatch over and over again. Highly recommended!Was this review helpful to you?
The Perfect First CDrama
My family and I take turns choosing what to watch next. This was my choice and I'm so glad it was the first cdrama they watched with me. All of us were glued to the screen, giggling and kicking our feet. We cried with the characters and loved every second of this. I'm sure this is being added to the rewatch rotation.The story was phenomenal, the acting was superb, and I got to open up a new world for my family. I've watched cdramas on my own for a while now, but this showed them a whole new genre.
Also - my crush on Victor Ma is not going anywhere anytime soon, lol.
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I LOVE ITTTTT
this was so cozy and TBH it changed my perspective on relationships. the way they’re each other's constant support system throughout the whole story is so SOOOO 🫶🏻 watching their bond grow made me realize how important it is to have someone who truly gets you and is always there for you.duan jiaxu didn’t deserve anything that happened to him. he’s such an amazing person and i’m so happy sang zhi was there to show him his worth and helped him heal. it was so heartwarming to see how she brought out the best in him ❤️🩹
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