Currently Reviewing: Still Shining
Looking Back with Hidden Love
Official Title: 偷偷藏不住 | Genre: Romance, Comedy
Streaming platform: Youku and Netflix
Broadcast period: 20 June 2023 / Total Episodes: 25 | Soundtracks: OST
Official sites: Weibo | Sang Zhi’s Weibo | Duan Jia Xu’s Weibo | Sang Yan’s Weibo
The drama is viewable online on Youku and globally on Netflix. This article contains mild, yet various spoolers!
One day, Sang Zhi went home looking for her brother, Sang Yan. Instead of her brother, she meets Duan Jia Xu when she enters the room. She was immediately mesmerized by this good-looking Gege (a brotherly term, much like Oppa in Korean). Through various interactions, Sang Zhi has very good impression of Jia Xu and eventually developed a crush on him. However, she was too young at the time so she could only keep her feelings to herself. One year, she misunderstood that Jia Xu had a girlfriend. Wishing him happiness, heartbroken Sang Zhi cut all communication with Jia Xu. Two years later, they meet again and this time, their dynamics change as Sang Zhi is no longer underage and Jia Xu starts seeing him as a young woman instead of a little kid he once knew.
(GIF source bellow: ahsung on Tumblr and here)
To my actual surprise, it was enjoyable all-around. Other than no such man like Duan Jia Xu exist in this world, the storyline is pretty down to earth and realistic. What is special about it was the nostalgic part, as it brings back memories of our own one sided crush(es) we have when we were young. Who doesn’t have a secret crush during school days? Be it towards our classmates or seniors; the next door neighbour or even a family friend’s child. We were all lil’ Sang Zhi at least once, and we all wish our dream of our secret crush liking us back will come true like our drama couple.
After all, teen crushes can be overwhelming. Duan Jia Xu is a walking green flag, and when he finally realizes his feelings for her, he tries to win Sang Zhi over, and you want him to win. There’s a cute moment when he sweetly confesses he no longer wants to be the older brother but rather her boyfriend instead, and another adorable scene is how his car number “34520” literally translates as “Sang Zhi, I love you”! There are a few hurdles to cross including Sang Zhi’s protective older brother and Duan Jia Xu’s complicated past for Sang Zhi to get her forever prince charming, but these are quickly resolved.
One of the things that stood out to me the most about Jia Xu was his attention to detail and sweet, caring nature towards Sang Zhi. There are small little gestures, but it showed just how caring and considerate Jia Xu could be. But it wasn’t just Jia Xu’s kindness that won me over. The dynamic between Jia Xu and Sang Zhi was also incredibly heartwarming. Throughout the drama, we see Jia Xu going out of his way to protect and support Sang Zhi, even in the face of adversity. And when Sang Zhi was bullied, it was heartwarming to see all the boys come together to defend her. As the drama progressed, I found myself becoming more and more invested in Jia Xu’s character. Overall, I can’t help but admire the incredible talent of Chen Zhe Yuan and the way he brought this character to life. His portrayal of Jia Xu is simply exceptional.
Sang Yan, as a brother, he is both annoying and endearing. Despite his mischievous nature, he always stands up and protects his sister with unwavering loyalty. There was one particular moment that truly touched me. Sang Yan declared that no one, except for him, has the right to bully his sister. As a brother, he is both annoying and endearing. Despite his mischievous nature, he always stands up and protects his sister with unwavering loyalty. There was one particular moment that truly touched me. Sang Yan declared that no one, except for him, has the right to bully his sister.
This heartfelt expression of brotherly love melted my heart and showcased the strong bond between them. Throughout the drama, Sang Zhi, is fortunate to be surrounded by many loving people.
Zhao Lu Si brings her contagious energy, along with a bright smile to her character as it catches life, infusing each scene with her signature charm and cleverness. Her ability to effortlessly switch between comedic moments and emotional depth showcases her versatility. Chen Zhe Yuan, on the other hand, captivates audiences with his brooding intensity and genuine vulnerability. His nuanced portrayal of complex emotions, especially through his eyes, allows viewers to fully immerse themselves in his character’s journey.
Off-screen, Zhao Lu Si and Chen Zhe Yuan’s genuine friendship and camaraderie shine through, which translates seamlessly onto the screen. Their natural interactions during interviews and behind the scenes footage further solidify their incredible on-screen chemistry, making their characters’ love story even more believable and compelling.
Lastly, here are a few cute scenes to wrap this article up:
“I am telling you the secret I wanted to seal away forever. Can you believe that you are a great person? Seeing how much I like you, can you ignore what people say about you? Can you be with me forever?”
"I will let you know [when she runs into problems]. I didn’t tell you about Jiang Ying because I’ve grown up and I can handle it. You don’t have to worry about me. I won’t let her pick on me without doing anything. I can protect myself. I can protect you too." HIDDEN LOVE (2023) episode 21
“That little girl who used to sit in my back seat suddenly grew up one day. She can always accompany me and walk side by side with me. She helped me overcome my longest and darkest hour. She even took a lead and waited for me in the sunlight.”
"Our story began when he was 22 years old. I once buried my feelings towards him worried that someone else might find out. I worked hard to become a better person to match his pace. And when I finally caught up to him, that’s when I knew that I wasn’t the only one running. He was running towards me too. In these five whole years, I healed his trauma. He gave my bittersweet first love a happy ending. Our story began when he was 22 years old. And it came to an end when I was 22 years old."
See you around next time,
with more lovely ideas!
Sources: TMDB, Weibo, kisskh, Tumblr, eukybearlovesdrama.wordpress.com and Here.
