Hidden Love

✒⭐Grasp Those Stars & Hold Tight⭐ °7.8° °VG°

Here's a romance that's a warm and sticky sweet bun with a nice cup of chamomile tea. We're talking very low drama. Romance fans will find it charming and relaxing. I certainly did. Others might be underwhelmed. We meet Sang Zhi (Zhizhi) in middle school and follow her through several years of her life. In ep1 big bro brings his friend, Jiaxu, home. Zhizhi is smitten. Jiaxu is thoughtful and kind towards her. He always has time for her, which only fans the flames as the years roll by.

HL is a 2023 release that is rated a whopping 9 on MDL. It is 1 season consisting of 25 45-minute episodes. Zhao Lu Si (Who Rules the World-7.5, I Hear You-7, The Romance of Tiger and Rose-9.8, Love Like the Galaxy) is FL Sang Zhi. I've liked her in everything I've seen so far, but my respect for her abilities took a leap forward with this show. Feisty and full of life describes most of her characters. Here, she's shy and demure (though she's capable of pulling some bold moves, we'll see). Even her body language says she's not fully grown. While in HS, her gangly walk is the pièce de résistance of her act. She's extremely impressive, particularly when one factors in how different she is from her other performances. I am a fan.

Chen Zhe Yuan (Our Secret, Handsome Siblings-8.7) play ML Duan Jiaxu. He's a sparky, mischievous brat in HS, a show that I love. In HL he's calm and thoughtful. Victor Ma (Detective Chinatown, Moments We Shared) is big brother Sang Yan. He may be the big brother, but he's a bit of a brat, always calling Zhizhi “Little demon”. The director is Lee Ching Jung (Go Go Squid!, Everyone Loves Me). The screenwriter is Ou Si Jia of Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities, and the original creator is Zhu Yi of the show, When I Fly Towards You-7.8.

The day Zhizhi meets Jiaxu she has a dilemma. She's in trouble at school and her parents have been called in for a teacher conference. She somehow persuades Jiaxu to pose as her brother for the conference. He attends, explaining that the parents are out of town. Crisis deleveled. That favor creates a bond between them that will never be broken. Zhizhi ends up at college in Jiaxu's hometown, and he is the only person she knows there. Sang Yan asks friend, Jiaxu, to look out for his sister. Jiaxu does. Zhizhi was already looking at Jiaxu… and only him.

I watched HL back-to-back with When I Fly Towards You. They are similar - same author. They're relaxing, they really couldn't be sweeter, and they both lack depth. Other than a stalker connected to Jiaxu over a mistake his father made, the biggest problem the characters face in HL is Zhi's milk allergy. (The show presents the 5 year age difference as a big issue. It certainly is for teens, but once they are both in their 20's it isn't worth mentioning). That's okay; there's a nice big space with comfy couches for such wind-down watches. It does lower the degree of difficulty, though, and thus the maximum score. One the one hand, to do a slice-of-life feature in which not much happens, yet it is still a great watch, takes skill. On the other hand, for a feature to be in the high 8's and above, there should be complexity and these 2 shows have none. They can be every bit as enjoyable as, and the ones we rewatch before more highly rated shows. Entertainment that touches the heart is meritorious regardless of technical lapses. WIFTY gets a higher cuteness rating because the female lead’s character is ridiculously and relentlessly cute, while HL is more tranquil. It's almost plodding, but never boring. These shows are for romantiholics only, and look at the ratings - romance junkies are very satisfied. If you want to expose a friend, who is only a casual romance watcher, to a youthful Chinese romance, I suggest A Little Thing Called First Love-8.5 or Wait, My Youth-8.4.

HL may lack deeper shading but it has no flaws. Every element is done well. The music is quite nice, however Shazam only had titles in Mandarin. Some did pop up on Spotify. Modern-day Cdramas have gotten better. Before 2019 most are deeply flawed, though not without their charms. One of the best things about Cdramas is what I call their Prozac effect. They are designed to quiet the mind and calm the spirit. If anxiety is up, a Chinese modern-day romance like HL could very well help level the mood.

At one point Zhizhi pumps her fist in the air and gives Jiaxu the common Kdrama encouragement: “FIGHTING!” The most recent Cdramas have been acknowledging the popularity of Kdramas, and I suspect it's a call out to what has inspired their growth. I love it. I also loved HL. Will you? If you call yourself a romance fan, maybe. Probably. If you consider yourself a romance /junkie/ then there can be no doubt; check it out!

〰🖍 IMHO

📣7.5 📝7 🎭8.3 💓7 🦋6 🎨6.5 🎵/🔊8 🔚7.7 ▪ 🌞7 ⚡3 😅3 😭3 😱1 😯2 🤢0 🤔3 💤0


Age 12+ for mild sexual content; Rated TV-Y7: Directed to Older Children

Re-📺? It's not impossible, but there's a long list of other shows that would precede it in a rewatch.


In order of ~lite & trite~ to ~heavy & serious~ you may also like:

💓 -
C🇨🇳: Well-Intended Love 7.5 Rom-porn - extra points for the dopamine;
🌐 I Hear You ‘19 7.3, so cute but with many flaws
🌐 You are my destiny 6.8 ‘20 cute and sweet and 1/2 padding
Find Yourself 8.9;
The Sleepless Princess 9.1
K🇰🇷 :
A Witch's Love 7.8;
Love To Hate You 8.9;
Touch Your Heart 8.2;
Crash Landing On You 9.1;
Oh My Ghost 10;
It's Okay Not to Be Okay 9;
Hospital Playlist 9;
My Mister 9.5;

🎎 -
C🇨🇳: Overlord 8.4,
Under the Power 8.6,
The Rebel Princess 9.1,
The Sword and the Brocade 8.6 (in ancient Chinese opera style),
The Rise of Phoenixes 9
K🇰🇷:
My Only Love Song 8.7 excellent comedy;
Mr. Queen 8.5;
My Sassy Girl 8.5;
The King's Affection 8.3;
Mr. Sunshine 9

🔮🐉-
C🇨🇳: Love Between Fairy & Devil 8.9;
Once upon a time in Linglian Mountain 7.5;
Douluo Continent 9.4;
Eternal Love 8.3,
Ancient Love Poetry 8.6;
Love and Redemption 10

Japanese🇯🇵 lite romcoms: Maid Sama-10, Mischievous Kiss Love in Tokyo-7.8, Love, Chunibyo And Other Delusions-8.4, Toradora-8.5

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Trope and juvenile

This is a juvenile drama and should be watched as such. It is trope and adolescent to be crushing someone. It is very innocent (or naive depending on your viewpoint) and pure as some reviewers have commented. It is refreshing even compared to some other teen dramas which nowadays focus on difficult themes like bullying or the stress/pressure of academic excellence or suicide ideation. However, I couldn't help but get vibes of paedophilic grooming especially in the first episode with the 14 yo Sang Zhi and developed a strong 'ick' factor.

I seriously don't know how this drama can rate so highly compared to real meaty dramas. I watched hoping it would get more 'adult' and meaty but finally gave up. I really liked Zhao Lu Si and her portrayal of a high school student was spot on. Young love is pure and juvenile and one has to be in the right mood for it. Unfortunately, I'm not.

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Diabetic sweetness we need in our life

SO ADORABLE!! Great acting, great chemistry., beautiful family relationships. This is such s breath of fresh air after watching so many toxic relationships.

Recommended to watch to ease d pressure of daily life. Makes you rethink on wat kind of relationships you want in your life. On a deeper level, this is d kind of love and family dynamics dat we should aim lol.. Love d brother realness, dat regardless his full blown annoying attitude, he always protects his sister. I want one too, please.. And dont forget his brother kind and fluffy sidekick., Love his kind nature too.. DAYM I ADORE THIS NON TOXIC CREATURES!!!

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Dropped

The acting is bad except for the first episode.
The music is decent.
The story is too slow. Can walk away to get some coffee and 20 min later and not miss anything. Can miss an entire episode and not miss anything. Being called 2nd brother over and over, him acting like a father figure but later wanting a romance is creepy.
Shouldn't be listed as comedy.
The hype is ridiculous. Started off at 9.9 on imdb and once it gets on Netflix, it'll probably dump faster when people try it like I did. Waste of time unless you are a 9 or 10 year old maybe.

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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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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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One of my first cdramas that I will never forget and also one of the first series that I allowed myself to rewatch. When I found out that I didn't have a review for this gem yet, I had to fix it right away and now. Jiaxu and Sang Zhi won my heart in the first episode without having to try, the same with Sang Yan (who also managed to do it in First Frost Imao). I don't regret the day I watched the series, but I regret finishing it and then drowning in tears that this masterpiece ended. As I already wrote, it's one of the dramas that I've watched for the second time, which is a miracle because I don't normally do something like that haha and I laughed, cried and cursed again. I love Hidden Love and all the spin offs connected to it. I love the main characters and the supporting ones, played by actors on the 1st. I love the story itself and the OST, which added a touch of spice to it. I love the whole Hidden Love thing and applaud those who put so much work into it because this masterpiece is worth watching. I said it in 2023, I'm still saying it in 2025.

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