Hidden Love

At first, I initially dropped this because I was getting annoyed by her voice as her younger version , but after watching The Romance of Tiger and Rose, I really came to like Zhao Lusi and her acting, so I decided to rewatch this from the start. I also think that this drama could be viewed wrongly, especially as the actress who played young Sangzhi was most likely about 9/10 years old at the time of filming. In adulthood I believe 5 years age difference is not bad, but considering that they knew each other when Sangzhi was in middle school it can be misinterpreted even though they started the romance after she was an adult. Sangzhi's crush was cute and I think the drama portrayed it well but after they started dating it did start to become dragging. I personally think they should have ended it at 20 episodes because the final 5 episodes kind of dragged a bit, if it didn't drag so much in the final 5, I most likely would have given this drama an 8.5 or 9. Also, Sang Yan kept saying he had a girlfriend, I know there is a spin-off series regarding this but in my opinion I would have preferred it if Sang Yan and Yuxin got together and met online while playing games, I was expecting this to happen and it never did. Victor Ma/Sang Yan was my most favourite character in this series. I really loved Victor Ma in this drama and also his OST "Be Your Light", I had it on replay so much.

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OMG IT'S INSANE

When the drama started I was kind of worried because sang zhi's character was really young, I was like is it going to be something weird and creepy ?? But thankfully I was wrong and I ended up loving this drama. The characters are so sweet and adorable, and the story feels like a warm cozy hug, this is one of those dramas you watch on rainy days for comfort. I recently rewatched it 😭 and I still love it. the chemistry between the actors is so amazing I just can't describe it in words. And it's shot so beautifully, visually it's gorgeous to look at. One of my favorite things of this drama was also the sound track 😭. IT WAS ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST CDRAMAS I WATCHED SO IT'S VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART.

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Waste of My Time

I found it perplexing that 'Hidden Love' received a high rating of 9.1 which is equivalent to 'Nirvana on Fire.' I watch about 10 episodes but ultimately had to abandon it, lacking any inclination to resume. The series felt monotonous and lacked the promised romantic essence. The male lead's persistent pursuit of his friend's younger sister struck me as inappropriate, to the extent that I would have severed ties if I were the brother. Overall, the drama failed to captivate my interest. I'd advise against investing time in it. If you're seeking a contemporary romance drama, I highly recommend the Korean series 'Crash Landing on You' instead.

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Amazing!

I have one word to describe this drama: AMAZING! It has set a new standard for me. Every time I start a new drama, I find myself comparing it to HL. The acting, story, and music are all incredible, and I have no criticisms. This is rare for me, as I usually have high standards and can always find at least something I don’t like.

Duan Jia Xu is my absolute favorite character. In the beginning, he portrays the “brother” role perfectly. Then, when he moves on to the boyfriend role…. Ahhhhhh. He is so hot. Without even saying anything, this guy can make you blush. Don’t get me started on his eyes. This guy is a walking green flag; no, he is a forest of green.

I really love Sang Zhi’s character. She is the epitome of a gentle, kind, and sweet person. She is loyal and strong. I have no complaints about her character. I also love her relationship with Sang Yan (her brother). I have never seen a sibling relationship portrayed so well. I love their bickering. It is so entertaining to watch and reminds me so much of my brother and me.

The chemistry between Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu is simply remarkable and unlike anything I’ve seen in a drama before. Every interaction they have lights up the screen, leaving me smiling and giggling at their playful banter and heartfelt moments. The depth of their connection is evident in the way he gazes at her—it’s filled with such warmth and admiration that it makes my heart flutter. If only I could experience a look like that from someone! Their chemistry truly makes the story come alive and just draws you in. ^Swoon^!

This drama is so amazing. Please watch, you will see what I mean—definitely a 10/10 from me.

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Tried Hard, But This Show Just Didn’t Click for Me

I am sorry to be harsh but I judge everything to a gold standard especially to western dramas.

Oh man, I really tried to get into this show. I gave it my best shot, but the first few episodes felt like a random assortment of nonsense. I finally just skipped to episode 7, and honestly, that felt like the real first episode—where the girl grows up and finally starts using her brain. I get that the show is supposed to be light and easy with zero substance, so I’m willing to give it a pass there.

That said, a couple of episodes were enjoyable, but I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters. It feels like one of those disposable, low-budget dramas with minimal writers, but the director worked magic to somehow keep it from falling apart. Seriously, amazing direction.

Outside of the two leads with their “decent” chemistry, every other character felt like a throwaway. Even the brother, who’s just there to provide comic relief, just popped in for random phone calls and small talk. I’m not trashing the show—there’s just nothing happening. No meaningful introductions, no plot twists, no side characters worth remembering. I haven’t even finished the series and, honestly, I don’t feel any urge to. But hey, if I ever have way too much free time, I might give it another shot.

Also, let’s address the weird elephant in the room: the male lead falling for the girl who was basically a sister to him. Yeah, I know things like that can happen in real life, but the first few episodes really sold him as the protective, older-brother type. He was already a mature grown-up while she was still a teen, and the sudden shift into romance felt... off. Like, c’mon, how do you go from “big bro” to boyfriend that fast? But hey, maybe I’m just reading too much into it.

Now, despite all the nitpicking, I have to say the hospital episodes (somewhere around 9 or 11?) were fantastic. Those scenes felt real and had actual substance. I just wish the rest of the show had some kind of plot to match that.

In the end, it's not garbage like most shows, but it’s one of those shows I’ll probably only finish out of boredom. Not bad—just... forgettable.

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Good Chemistry, Weak Characters

I really wanted to love Hidden Love. I enjoy slow-burn romances, well-acted leads, and dramas where characters know what they’re doing. Age gaps and inexperienced male leads don’t bother me at all, and I usually binge dramas in 1–3 days. Yet, this one turned out to be a different experience entirely.

I first started watching it in 2024, and I was intrigued by the story. The first two episodes were enjoyable, with sweet chemistry between the leads, Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu. But after that, I couldn’t get fully invested. Over time, I found myself watching sporadically—maybe one episode here and there sometimes taking months between episodes.


The strongest point of the drama is the lead chemistry. Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu’s interactions are natural and easy, and the romance has genuinely sweet moments. I found myself giggling, smiling, and even kicking my feet during their cute interactions. Sang Yan, Sang Zhi’s older brother, is another standout. His playful, protective personality adds humor, warmth, and depth, making me wish he appeared even more often. Sang Zhi’s parents are also well-portrayed a calm, mature, healthy couple, which is surprisingly comforting.

However, there were several issues that made it hard for me to continue. Sang Zhi’s early behavior in college felt overly childish, and the timid first interactions with Duan Jiaxu were a little cringe at times. The pacing was very slow, and repeated reminders that “Sang Zhi has grown up” felt unnecessary and repetitive.

The biggest problem for me was Duan Jiaxu’s sudden shift in feelings. While Sang Zhi’s crush develops naturally, his emotional change felt abrupt and came out of nowhere. It disrupted the slow-burn dynamic that I normally enjoy and made it hard to fully connect with the romance.

Side characters were also underdeveloped. Their stories felt cookie-cutter and bland, leaving large parts of the narrative feeling stagnant. Even after almost a decade passed in the story, character growth was minimal, which made the journey less engaging.

Over nearly 1.5 years, I tried really hard to keep up with the drama. I forced myself to watch an episode almost every day, but it felt more like a chore than an enjoyable experience. Finally, around episode 16, I decided to drop it. While I enjoyed the leads and their chemistry, the lack of side character depth, the slow pacing, and the abrupt male lead development were too much for me to continue.

Overall:

Hidden Love has sweet moments, excellent lead chemistry, and heartwarming family dynamics. Fans of slow-burn romance with a feel-good, calm atmosphere will likely enjoy it. But if you value consistent character development, engaging side characters, or a gradual emotional arc for all leads, this drama may test your patience.

Rating: 7/10

Tips for viewers:

Perfect if you love slow-burn romance and heartwarming family interactions.
Be prepared for very slow pacing in the early episodes.
Don’t expect strong secondary character development.
Requires patience, especially if you tend to binge-watch.

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This was just an okay drama for me <3. Probably 7.5/10 for now.

I will not say it's overrated, because it's always nice to see a mellow, sweet drama with minimal conflict to be rated high. After all, the ratings are always subjective, that is the point, and I am sure that each one of us can name plenty of dramas that we consider either overrated or underrated; it all boils down to personal preference. And feel-good shows need their spot in the sun too!

"Hidden Love" is a heartwarming series and I understand how people relate to this and find solace in this simple yet touching story. Not to mention the leads are great here!

Personally, I didn't mind the slower pace or the lack of confict. I only felt that it became a bit repetitive towards the end and that the main couple at some point stopped really talking to each other. I mean, they did interact, but it felt superficial to me. It almost reminded me of "Intense Love" in that respect: pretty people being cute but somehow never talking about their likes and dislikes, hobbies, work, friends or even their future in detail....I just like my OTPs talking about stuff and going through things together, you know? :D

I am not sure if I will rewatch this in the future, but if I'll ever want a sugar sweet balm to calm my poor nerves, I know where to look :).

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Great chemistry but pretty predictable plot

Acting was good, I liked the characters and the actors played it well. The chemistry between the two leads are good too.

However when it comes to the story, its pretty predictable, its something you can see to other romance stories, and not quite refreshing. Furthermore, there are flaws in the plot, like I feel it has too much episode for a simple story, some scenes can be out in the story like its not that necessary, plus I wish they could elaborate more the ML's feelings or experience from his past, and the first few episodes are pretty good, but as the story goes on, I lost interest.

Overall, the only thing I don't like about this is how story flows like it was too stretched, but I admit that some scenes are great, and the acting are great too.

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Let's Just Say I Had a Change of Heart

As you can tell by the title, this was a drama that I initially dropped early on in my CDrama experience. This was one of the first few dramas I attempted to watch after falling in love with Falling Into You (2022). Obviously, there are some similarities with the age gap/age difference but that's about where the similarities start and stop. Anyway, I dropped this drama a LONG time ago and completely forgot about it. Fast forward to a few weeks ago where I watched the ML in another drama that I absolutely fell in love with, so I decided to come back to this drama and realized that it was the same actor. Everyone say, "Thank You, The Princess & The Werewolf!" If it weren't for that drama, I never would have circled back to watch this one. Chen Zhe Yuan is outstanding! I enjoyed him in that show and that's why I decided to go back and give this drama another chance.


I'm quite outspoken regarding my dislike and hesitance regarding age gaps. Age gaps always tend to be a miss for me. It never ticks off all of the necessary checkboxes for me to thoroughly enjoy them. In this case, I'm not going to pretend like the age gap doesn't bother me because it absolutely does. It doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the show but it's certainly not something I can relate to or understand honestly. There's a 5-6 year age difference between the lead characters? I can't imagine being 25 and dating anyone under 21. Plus, Duan Jia Xu watched Sang Zhi grow up. This isn't a matter of grooming by any means, but the age gap could turn some people off and I'll be forthcomimg about that. If you had an issue with the age gap, then you have every right to feel that way because it does come off as kind of icky in the grand scheme of things. But I digress.

Also, the episodes where we watched Sang Zhi grow up dragged out for FAR too long! I think that's what made me drop this show the first time. It's one thing for there to be a trope I'm already uncertain about. It's another thing to force me to watch a show overly emphasize said trope by giving us 5 or 6 episodes of the FL being an underage minor and the ML being an adult. That part of the drama dragged out so long and it would easily take someone out of the story if they were already unsure about watching this show to begin with. We didn't need to see that much of her being a kid in relation to Duan Jia Xu. We didn't need to be constantly reminded of the age gap/age difference in that way, honestly. It went on too long!

So, moving on. I think there were some things about this show I would have changed to elevate this drama that much more. I feel like the stakes should have been higher in terms of the obstacles they faced as a couple. The stakes never felt high and there didn't appear to be any true threats to their relationship, which can make the drama feel a LOT longer than it actually is. It makes the drama feel more draggy instead of compelling. Duan Jia Xu's issues weren't serious enough to make me believe it was enough to be an issue for them. My one pet peeve is that I feel like Sang Zhi should have had more of a presence and backbone. Sometimes, it felt like she was TOO passive for someone who was actively pursuing an older guy. While she did stand up when necessary, I feel like she didn't fight enough, if that makes sense. Knowing that you were going to have to deal with a ton of naysayers being hesitant, uncertain, and wary of your relationship should have made her more assertive when it came to fighting for her relationship with Duan Jia Xu. I think in these moments her age was fairly obvious; it highlighted her immaturity. Her personality and her choices reminded me that she's a young woman. There are certain temperaments and perspectives that naturally develop with age. A wisdom, of sorts. Due to that, I did extend some level of grace to her.

Last but not least, I feel like Duan Jia Xu would have have benefited from having more of an edge to him. Don't get me wrong, I'm a STRONG proponent of nice male leads. I love them dearly! However, I feel like he should have had some flaws, some jagged edges to male him feel more realistic and three-dimensional. I feel like he was TOO perfect. I kid you not - this man was flawless in every way. He had no real flaws and it could easily bore you because the character comes off so flat because he's so dull. I didn't want him to be a red flag but I wanted him to be more human.

Also, I did see some people say they wished he was more uncertain about jumping into a relationship with Sang Zhi. While I understand the sentiment and reasoning, I feel as if that would have only worked if Sang Zhi were more determined about snagging him in the first place. I know some people hate that trope but I actually love the "female chases male lead first" trope because it's subversive and it's different. You don't see that much in CDramas, so I would have gladly been all over that. But again, that's the only way it would have worked. Otherwise, this drama would fall apart with a ML who's uncertain about acting on his feelings for the FL and a FL who is easily swayed by the opinions of her family and others; it would not have made for an interesting drama. It would have been annoying and draining.

Anyway, I think I yapped enough for one night. Was this a great show? It was okay. Would I recommend it? Initially, I would have said yes. But after some time has passed, no. Also, I realized that I didn't actually like this show. Would I rewatch it? Probably not. Don't get me wrong. I did enjoy it somewhat but I don't think I can rewatch it. I skipped through the first few episodes of this show for a reason and I doubt I would want to go through that again.

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Modern day Romanticized Grooming and Enablers

Zhaolusi is gorgeous and her acting is acceptable. DXJ acting is bland and boring. He hasn't improved from the Mr. Bad. I get it. He's hot, so he get the pass for his terrible acting skills.

Storyline depicted lots of disturbing lines and scenes that shouldn't be romanticized such as the underage girl and the ml. If they just cut out the whole beginning and begins where they met in college, it would have been acceptable.

It's OK to like older men when we are young and naive but to encourage someone underaged to build a relationship with an older man at that age is straight up grooming. No child should be allowed to form a relationship without the guidance of their guardians. That's just neglectful and straightup enablers on her family side. I don't care if there is a back story. It doesn't make sense for the ml to keep involving himself with a child that young with no supervision. He is not a relative nor a real brother. Should have developed a sense boundary.

Overall, story is fine. The flashbacks were quite annoying as they throwed me off track a lot. I get the hype. Young kids, nowadays, are still growing and find everything amazing. I was once a teenager too and understand the imagination to hit on a hot guy. However, there are no excuses for the adults who should known better. It's ok to like a story but know what you are promoting to younger audience.

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