Hidden Love

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 good
Everyone 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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Hidden Love made me believed in love all over again

Stumbled upon Hidden Love by accident when I was just scrolling through netflix looking for one good series to watch, and somehow I ended up here and that moment marked my very first step into c-dramas. I didn’t even bother to search for the cast beforehand, so I went in with zero expectations, just a mindset of “let’s see where this takes me.”

However, suddenly, I was so absorbed that I don’t even know how to go back to k-dramas again, lol. Now I’m fully seated for more c-drama.

Hidden Love is the perfect example of how the delivery of a drama that feels so balanced. The conflicts, the sweet little moments, the struggle of each character, the joyous moments, the way each character quietly grows to be a better person for each other, it all unfolds at just the right pace. And the chemistry? Not only between the leads, but also between the SangSang siblings. That, for me, was the true cherry on top <3

I know the age gap might feel uncomfortable for some, but to me, that’s what makes Hidden Love so unique. The slow (literally slow) burn of their romance is what makes it tender and beautifully real. and the second half of the drama always made me giggles yet craving for having my very own Duan Jiaxu in my life lol

If your heart is longing for something light yet warm, this is one of those stories that might stay with you. definitely a must-watch🤍

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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!

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how am i meant to move on from this one?

i don’t usually find myself interested in modern cdramas, but it had such good reviews and good leads that i decided to give it a try.
i’ve watched a good number of cdramas, many of which were amazing. however, none have touched me like this one has. i don’t know how i’m meant to move on from it. i’ve tried watching some similar dramas others have recommended but i can’t help but compare them to this one and can’t quite commit to them. none of them have managed to pull me in like this one did from the very start.
there’s something very special about this drama, a certain kind of nostalgia that it evokes that isn’t easily explained. i’m not sure how to put it into words.
youth. that nostalgic innocence of a first love and the resulting heartbreak that feels so crushing and world-ending, it feels like you’ll die.
then young adulthood. the inevitable messiness that comes with that transition. the adults in your life struggling to reconcile the fact that you’re no longer a child, unsure how to treat you going forward; you struggling to appear mature before them, still unable to help but be childlike in ways. that slow acceptance of yourself, including those less “adult” parts of yourself that you believed you had to let go of to be seen as grown.
you can feel it in the acting, the wardrobe, the way it was filmed, in the OST, even in the colours used.
it’s all beautiful and it’s familiar. you won’t regret watching it, even though you’ll struggle to move on afterwards.

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Her first love and last love <3

This drama is honestly one of my absolute favorites. It's just so heartwarming and has the perfect amount of angst. It does have some cliche tropes, such as brother's best friend, but it honestly just works so well here. This drama was so comforting, and the love between Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu was just so:(( This drama made me cry and laugh so much, and it will forever be one of my absolute favorites. I love Sang Zhi's friends, and how they were there for her.

They were also some of her biggest cheerleaders. I absolutely adored this drama, and I sometimes go back and rewatch my favorite episodes. I also just love how shameless Duan Jiaxu was, and also the bickering between him, Sang Zhi, and Sang Yan. Sang Zhi and Sang Yan's sibling bond is just so:(( Sang Yan can come off as kind of harsh and as if he doesn't love Sang Zhi, but that is not the case at all. He is fiercely protective of her and dotes on her in his own way. Their sibling bond just made me sob my eyes out.

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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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Makes you want to fall in love

This was my first cdrama and I'm really glad that it was. Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan are incredible as the leads. They do a fantastic job to convey the said and unsaid feelings between the two characters, and their acting and chemistry really added to the story.

I'll summarise my thoughts in a few bullet points.

The good
- Like the title says--this drama made me want to fall in love! The pure innocence of the first love, the longing and friendship between the two leads, and then the change to MORE...oof! It was so good!
- The acting was phenomenal. Whether it was the main leads or the siblings, or even the friendships on the side....I really enjoyed every dynamic. Shout out to the main leads, of course, and Sang Yan...these three always made for entertaining scenes.
- I really appreciated how the story was written when Sang Zhi is still a minor. I thought it was respectful of her feelings while also making it very clear that Duan Jiaxu didn't see her like that.
- I really enjoyed the episodes where they were both feeling each other out. I thought their banter was always top notch, and while Sang Zhi did get shy at times, she always gave back as good as she got. Their dynamic was delightful

The iffy
- While the age gap isn't actually that bad, the narrative itself remains inconsistent in how they deal with it, and the ages for their relationship aren't super appropriate. Even the writing seems to know that it's bad....until the birthday arc, it's unclear whether Sang Zhi is 19 or 20. Even Jiaxu "rounds her up" while downplaying his own age (which could conceivably be 23 until his birthday). The actual difference between them is more like 6 years, then, as we finally find out that turns 19 a short while before he turns 25. Possible? Yes. A bit yikes? Definitely.

That was my biggest holdup with this show. I was willing to suspend my disbelief about everything else, but not this. Considering Jiaxu was working in the video game industry, it would've been so easy to have Sang Zhi intern at his company in her final year. Or for her to be in grad school and do so. I understand a driving force for this was probably that the writers didn't want the main characters to date anyone else, but that's still possible for both of them if Jiaxu is still paying his debt off, and Sang Zhi is trying to forget her first love and focus on her studies. Either way!!! Sang Zhi was legally an adult but legally wasn't good enough for me. I would've preferred to suspend my disbelief about them having been single for so long, rather than the fact that he starts liking her as soon as she's legal (a fact everyone keeps emphasising is okay).

__

If you ignore that last point, however, the show is wholesome and sweet. The two characters are otherwise evenly matched and support each other equally, which I really liked. It wasn't just the older guy looking out for Sang Zhi. The scenes where she defends him are some of my favourite.

Would definitely rewatch. In fact, I went back and did just that last night after binging the show over a couple days!

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Amazing

I really loved this show. I've actually watched 2 times in a short period of time. The first few episodes were extremely cringe worthy with Lusi trying to act like a teenager. But actually the way that she was acting seemed more like a fifth grader or something. It was just really weird, but once you get to episode 8, where she's in college, it starts getting more. Interesting and less cringy and then it becomes a beautiful love story. Her voice in this show is reallt babyish and annoying though i will say that. Ive watched her in many other shows and i dont remember her talking like that.

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