'Hidden Love' boasts a deceptively simple premise, masterfully executed. Before delving into the finer details, let's start with a spoiler-free overview:

Sang Zhi's childhood crush on her brother's close friend, Duan Jiaxu, initially results in her heartache. However, their paths unexpectedly cross again, prompting Duan Jiaxu to question his own emotions. Thus begins a captivating tale of endearing longing.

While the "she fell first, but he fell harder" trope isn't my personal favorite, I can't help but admire the impeccable craftsmanship of this love story. The development of their relationship avoids feeling contrived, a pitfall common to such simple premise dramas. The credit goes not only to the skillful acting but also to the engaging script, which seamlessly weaves banter that ignites their chemistry.

My main qualm with the narrative stems from the peripheral storylines that felt more like endurance tests than enjoyable diversions, along with the unnecessarily grim backstory of the male lead. A tragic backstory is welcome, but this one felt forced. Additionally, the character of Jiang Ying, the daughter of the man the male lead's father killed, was extremely unrealistic. While she did catalyze delightful interactions between the leads, her portrayal seemed detached from reality.

Another area of concern lies in the handling of the "parents" subplot. Mainly because neither lead really spoke to each other about the problem their parents had besides the fact that the ML has less money which, as the viewer, wasn't the problem I cared about. It's perplexing how the two protagonists avoided addressing the elephant in the room – the implications of their relationship's origins. Specifically, they never spoke together about how their relationship could be perceived due to the circumstances of them meeting. ML seems to just accept punishment which implies he agrees its wrong, rather than explaining that when she was young, he never saw her in that way. I think this could the reason it was critiqued by some people, if they could've just had him say 'but when we first met, I really didn't see you in that way' clearly, I think many controversies could be avoided. (I understand that it is implied he doesn't see her in that way, but I personally would've preferred it to be said specifically, especially with such a sensitive topic).

Despite these reservations, the pacing of 'Hidden Love' remains a standout, especially within its genre. Although the narrative takes a somber turn towards the end, the moments of tenderness shared by the leads effectively balance the tone while driving the story forward.

Turning to the acting, it's a commendable aspect of the show. Both leads opted against dubbing, and if they did use it, it was seamless. Zhao Lusi's portrayal is a breath of fresh air, her meticulous attention to mannerisms allowing her to convincingly embody different ages. Chen Zheyuan's performance as the mature and protective yet not overbearing or creepy boyfriend is equally praiseworthy. The palpable chemistry they share adds to the authenticity of their bond.

As someone not particularly drawn to music, I must applaud the drama's soundtrack. It's one of the rare cases where I found myself listening to the OST even after the show's conclusion.

In summation, 'Hidden Love' is an exceptional drama characterized by stellar performances. The dialogue exudes wholesomeness and believability, with the chemistry between the leads emerging as the series' crowning jewel. While a few narrative aspects could have been refined, the overall experience remains truly captivating.