Our Secret

Some Secrets Are Better Left Unspoken

Our Secret is a Chinese drama about two high school students, Zhou Siyue and Ding Xian, who slowly fall in love. The show has a soft and sweet tone with a lot of cute moments between the main characters. Their relationship feels believable and the school setting brings back that feeling of being a teenager.

However, the drama does have some problems. One of the biggest issues is the voice-over work. Ding Xian’s voice often doesn’t match her mouth movements, which becomes really distracting. It happens a lot and takes away from the scene. Her whispered lines especially stand out as being oddly delivered. They feel out of sync and disconnected from the mood. Kong Shadi also has a few strange-sounding whispers, but Ding Xian’s are noticeably worse. It’s hard to tell if that’s the actor’s performance or if it’s more of a problem with the production and editing.

The story itself is pretty cliché. The smart quiet boy meets the bright cheerful girl, but at times it also seems like the show is trying too hard to be different. There’s a subplot with Su Bocong that didn’t really add much to the story and was very predictable.

Chen Zheyuan, who plays Zhou Siyue, is definitely better in Hidden Love. I’m not sure if it’s just that he improved between 2021 and 2023, but chemistry plays a big part. His dynamic with Zhao Lusi in Hidden Love feels more natural and emotionally grounded. He also seems to fit the older brother type of role more, and visually, the pairing with Zhao Lusi just worked better on screen. Sometimes even small things like the height difference can help make the chemistry feel stronger, and that balance felt more natural in Hidden Love than it does here with Xu Mengjie.

I’ve seen someone say it’s better to just watch Go Ahead instead. I haven’t seen that one yet but I’ll update this review once I do to see how it compares.

Even with its flaws Our Secret has its moments. It’s not perfect but if you enjoy school romance with a bit of drama it’s still a decent watch.

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From deskmates to soulmates <3

As someone who loves fluffy dramas, this has climbed to my top drama list. Rarely a highschool drama can make you cry, but this drama is an exception. What makes you cry is the nostalgic feeling that this drama gives you. You watch the main leads and their friends grow from being a school student to university student.
The story begins as your typical main leads who bicker a lot with each other. Then soon they have good feelings towards each other. There are some misunderstandings and some small fights but it gets cleared very soon. Its not draggy.
Both the main leads are eye candy. They already behave like a married couple during their school years but they were still not dating. Its like everyone knows their dating except for themselves. This drama really made me question how the hell I spent my school years. This is such a feel good drama.
The chemistry is off the charts. They understand each other well, their family also do not object them, they have friends who are equally supportive. Siyeu is the man of dreams like literally, he is very humble, not cold, was never arrogant or dominant towards the FL. He even cried so many times in front of the FL. This was a refreshing thing that I enjoyed.
The FL is sweet and although she was making the ML her priority most of the times, she eventually realized how to separate her personal and professional life. They both loved each other since the beginning. No second leads, no other 3rd character that can break them or no other things that could separate them.
I really recommend this drama and you'll definitely feel emotional at the end since it is quite nostalgic how you watched them grow from teenagers to adults.

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There is better in this genre

This was an easy show to get into, and has to be one of my favorite genres (HS - childhood Friends to College lovers ). Similar to my fav shows such as Go Ahead and Always Home (Our Secretis a good watch but Watch these instead). Main leads are okay, I like Chen Zhe Yuan (Si Yue) , he was good in Hidden Love. The character he plays was a basic one, Male childhood friend who is really smart and parents love. The FL Rainbow Xu (Ding Xian) I have never seen before but she was just good. She got kind of annoying in college. Very persistent and just annoying. I enjoyed the side couple as well but it did turn annoying and unreasonable at times.I wish the time in High School was shortened or did something else to the plot besides just establishing there friendship. We understand that she likes him but not until college, which she is suddenly very adamant about it . College wasn’t so much rushed but the pacing was so-so. I wish there was more tension within the main leads as well. Nearly not enough kisses as there could’ve been. It just fell flat. I did enjoy it though but could’ve enjoyed it more if there was consistency and tension.

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A good drama to change the mood

I watched it for Chen Zhe Yuan, and here are my thoughts:
-A typical high school drama, the FL's character was a bit annoying but it was bearable, I liked her character's growth.
-The side character are lovely. The SL couple's chemistry is the best. My fav was "Auntie"
-I liked how they treated some problems that might seem trivial but are important.
-The chemistry was a bit lacking from the FL's part but it was okay (the effect of hidden love is still working) .
-There are many boring parts as well but they can be skipped.
Overall, it wasn't as good as expected but it was a quite fun and lighthearted drama.
I might've missed something but those are my thoughts after the last episode

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Our Secret is a type of youth drama that would bring you down memory lane. It emits a nostalgic feeling if you have left school because of the realistic portrayal of a student’s life. High school and campus romances tend to be a bore because of the repetitive storylines. But this one is a rare exception because the way the story is told will draw you in to follow the couple’s progress and growing up pains. There is no exaggeration to take away the seemingly ordinary life of the protagonists. This is what gives the drama a healthy dose of realism.

In short, if you like youth dramas, this should be one of the better ones to watch. There are no cheesy cliches like those found in My Unicorn Girl. Neither does it weigh you down with plenty of melodrama like in Go Ahead. There are sad moments but nothing so dramatic that an ordinary high school student is unable to overcome. The couple is cute and this is what most viewers would be looking for in a youth drama like this one.

Simple But Realistic Plot
I think many people would be able to relate to the main characters in Our Secret. They are teenagers and hence, you will find issues like quarrels with parents, bickering with sibling, making friends, exam pressures, course choices, and of course, first love being part and parcel of the drama. Except for the relationship between the leads, the rest of the issues are not explored in depth but naturally weaved into the story to provide viewers with a more comprehensive understanding of their lives. They also help to build the characters’ development as the story progresses.

With only 24 episodes, the drama doesn’t get bogged down with unnecessary details and long-winded subplots of all the issues mentioned above. Hence, the story is easy to follow. It is akin to the daily life of a high school student who develops feelings for the boy sitting next to her and vice-versa.

Great Acting
I think both the leads did a great job in portraying their characters. Chen Zhe Yuan seems like a natural fit as Si Yue with his smirks and air of indifference. Si Yue’s character is not cold and arrogant but neither is he friendly and warm. He is somewhere in between. Chen Zhe Yuan manages to give Si Yue this balance so that he appears just like the typical boy next door.

Rainbow Xu is not an experienced actress but she is still able to make Ding Xian looks timid and introverted as required. She captures the essence of the character with the way she speaks and her mannerisms. Thus, both of them provide viewers with very realistic characters with the way they depict their roles. Their chemistry as a high school couple is evident in the drama. There is no skinship given that they are students then but their interactions are sweet and cute to give off a feeling of an innocent romance.

Well-Written Characters
Our Secret is different from some other idol dramas like Love 020 which has unrealistically perfect characters. Ding Xian is like your typical teenager who is anxious in a new school and has to learn how to make friends. She is weak in Maths and doesn’t know how to refuse others. Si Yue is brainy and confident of his abilities but still has his moments of self-doubt.

The characters are written in a way that matches real life with their flaws. Yet, they do not end up being annoying. Instead, they easily entice viewers to root for them. There is also room for growth as they mature to become adults. In short, the main characters are not one-dimensional but have depth to their personalities.

My Verdict – Engaging For The Young
I think it is clear that Our Secret will easily resonate with the younger viewers especially those who are still studying or have just left school. This is simply because the story is very typical of what a teenager would face in real life. However, for the older viewers, this might be a tad draggy. Their high school life spans 15 episodes which means if you don’t enjoy high school romances, this would not be as engaging. It is different from Forever Love which has a much shorter school life arc and a more matured couple.

On top of that, I find a few episodes in the later part of the drama to be unnecessary. The obsession of the female lead to be with the male lead and his hesitance towards a relationship with her are unnecessary. This is where it falters to me when it has been going rather well for the most part. The second arc doesn’t have the same depth as the first and has a quicker pace. The screenwriter tries to incorporate more issues in their university life which I just don’t think add much value to the plot.

I would give a score of 7.5/10 for this Our Secret review. The start will immediately make you curious about the couple’s story. The girl expresses her feelings right at the beginning but got rejected. The story is then told as a flashback for 15 episodes. So, watch it if you don’t mind stepping into a teenage girl’s world and the experience of developing feelings for the boy next door. But skip it if you are looking for a more matured romance because the slow-moving school life will bore you.

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to be young and in love ??

i never knew that i'll love high school story like i used to, but this drama bring back those feeling and i looooove it. it remind me to K-drama : playfull kiss (?) but in a very different way. while in playfull kiss the ml is kinda jerk at the beginning, in here the ml is kind and caring and just Playfull. never knew this kind of simple highschool romance were perfectly portrayed in such beautiful way without losing its purpose to tell that in high school we just felt love at the first time, those awkward and fluttering moments, the friendships and the trouble we went through as a teenager the confusion abt the future. so so beautiful, kudos to the actors and the staff i really hard a good time watching this 💛🥰

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A Sweet Coming-of-Age Romance

This drama was an absolute delight, and I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. The cast had great chemistry, and the characters were genuinely lovable. I especially enjoyed the first half of the drama, when they were still in high school, because it was much funnier thanks to the constant bickering between their classmates and friends, Song Zi Qi and Kong Sha Di. Once the characters entered college, however, the story leaned heavily into miscommunication. I don’t mind miscommunication when it helps build the plot, but when it’s dragged out, it becomes frustrating and this drama definitely did that.

The most frustrating aspect was Ding Xian’s lack of independence. Her main goal revolved around getting into the same college as Zhou Si Yue so they could be together. Zhou Si Yue is an extremely gifted student, while Ding Xian is more average academically. Despite their differences, they become close friends, with Zhou Si Yue frequently helping her in school by sharing notes and tutoring her. When the college entrance exam results are released, Ding Xian doesn’t score high enough to attend the same university as Zhou Si Yue. As a result, she decides to repeat her senior year of high school to try again.

This storyline was especially infuriating because Ding Xian breaks down under the immense pressure she placed on herself. Zhou Si Yue overhears a conversation about this pressure and, realizing how much she sacrificed for him, begins to distance himself. His intention was for Ding Xian to focus on herself without him influencing her decisions, but his lack of communication only made things worse.

Eventually, Ding Xian does get into the same university and even attempts to major in the same field as Zhou Si Yue just to stay close to him. Her constant chasing gave me serious secondhand embarrassment. I really wished Zhou Si Yue had been honest from the moment he overheard her conversation and told her that she should pursue her own passion, reassuring her that their relationship could work even if they were long-distance.

In the end, Ding Xian finally discovers her own passion, which shows character growth. Still, that entire storyline dragged on far longer than necessary and ultimately felt unnecessary.

One genuinely cute moment in the drama occurs when the students must choose between liberal arts and science. Ding Xian chooses science for Zhou Si Yue, while Zhou Si Yue chooses liberal arts for Ding Xian. I found that moment especially sweet.

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Secret love/Hidden Love troupe

I have great appreciation for the ML in this series. He capturesd the emotions so well and played his character with precision. Fortunately I watched him on "Hidden love" which was also an excellent portrayal. Acting as a high schooler and adult with maturity and character development can be challenging and he was able to do so, effortlessly. Looking forward to more series from him. The story was on par, the ost was pleasant, the FL has a beautiful voice and the supporting actors didnt have me cringing on their jokes. Im new to Chinese series Im glad they are enjoyable.

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What an Amazing Cast!

Growing up is a Journey. A journey of happiness, sadness, struggle, insecurity. But its memorable. I think Youth is the Most memorable era of human's life. That urge to outshine but then be depressed & ask myself what the hell am i doin, being angry at parents to nag at us all time because im grown enough, the urge to be independent & the urge to be close to that lil crush we possess for "that" person. Sometimes the feelings turns out to be just an infatuation or sometimes the feelings becomes deeper & deeper as we grows up more.

This drama just perfectly depicts the whole feeling of the youth. The flavour of youth. It made me feel so many things. The love the friendship the journey the issues we deal as teen everything was perfectly showed in this drama. & yes obviously one thing this drama has The Male lead. The eye candy hardworking humble understanding handsome very rare to find in real life. But of course he is a person with flaws as well because nobody is perfect in this life. I would like to add the Male lead's Acting is damn good. His eyes are very expressive. He knows how to give expression not just put a stone face. I cant imagine anyone else as "Zhou siyue" except him. Now here comes to female lead. One of the best literally. Not cringe, no over acting. So natural. The side characters are very very interesting as well. Perfect Cast in a word. The OSTs are so freakinh amazing as well. Many scenes are rewatchable as well. Overall one of the best youth dramas This year.

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I don't usually watch youth dramas because I'm just too far from my teenage years, but Our Secret was just so cute! This drama opens with the main characters meeting again in college, before telling their story from the beginning, when Ding Xian moves next door to Zhou Siyue right before they begin high school. I was hooked because I was curious to see how they reached that point!

I love that Ding Xian and Zhou Si Yue are deskmates who, after getting off to a slightly prickly start, soon become close friends who care about each other. Although Zhou Si Yue is a genius, he is not the cold type, and Ding Xian isn't hopeless at school. She's actually smart, studies hard, and very determined to prove herself. Thankfully, this isn't the kind of drama where the girl pines after the guy for 95% of the drama! During their high school years, this drama does a great job of balancing the stress of school and the impending gaokao and the growing friendship between Ding Xian and Zhou Si Yue. There are some frustrating moments, but it's due to relatable insecurities and especially Ding Xian's personality. She herself admits to these weaknesses at one point, and it's definitely difficult to change a habit. There is a brief angsty period in their college years but they both needed to grow. I saw some comments about how nice it was to see Zhou Si Yue crying on screen and showing vulnerability, and I totally agree! It felt realistic to see these moments shown.

Ding Xian and Zhou Si Yue's friends were lovely characters, especially Song Zi Qi and Kong Sha Di from their high school years. Their tight-knit group was so cute. This drama doesn't have any annoying villains - there are a few characters that are somewhat villains but they only have a few scenes so it's not stressful! I initially really liked Su Bo Cong's character but was disappointed with the direction the writers took later on.

Overall, I enjoyed this a lot. 24 episodes was perfect. I'll especially be keeping an eye out for more of Chen Zhe Yuan's dramas.

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