SummerBerry

In my experience, many hyped dramas rely too much on attractive leads but often lack genuine emotional depth.
I usually end up watching them and feeling nothing, just pretty faces and a predictable storyline but Hidden Love completely surprised me.

I finished the entire drama in just two days without skipping a single scene which is rare for me especially for a romance drama without any major plot twists.

I genuinely loved all the characters,  there wasn’t a single annoying one.
The chemistry between the leads feels so natural and I can clearly see the love in their eyes.
Even the sibling bond between Sang Zhi and her brother feels real  just like the love-hate dynamic you’d expect from actual siblings.
Sang Zhi, played by Zhao Lusi is a bright and brave character and Zhao Lusi portrayed her so well. Victor Ma also did a fantastic job as the older brother.
Even Sang Zhi’s parents and friends are endearing and lovable.
There’s no ridiculously rich and handsome second male lead hopelessly in love with the female lead just to serve as a love rival, a tired cliché often used in romance dramas as if it’s the only way to move the story forward by making the male lead jealous or insecure.

But among all the characters, I was most fascinated by Duan Jia Xu played by Chen Zhe Yuan.
 It’s rare in romance C-dramas to find a male lead who conveys such deep emotion through his eyes. Chen Zhe Yuan’s performance was outstanding.
The way his gaze toward Sang Zhi gradually shifts from seeing her as just a friend’s younger sister to the woman he falls in love with, is subtle, genuine and perfectly executed.
I was honestly surprised to hear some people call this drama “problematic” because of the age difference  as if Duan Jia Xu is a grown man pursuing a young girl. Were they even watching?
DJX never does anything inappropriate or harmful toward Sang Zhi while she’s still young. Not once. He cares for her as a younger sister and treats her with respect.
If you think Duan Jia Xu’s character is predatory, maybe you're too naive or disconnected from reality.
The drama actually shows a healthy, respectful progression in their relationship , nothing creepy or inappropriate.
That is the reason everybody call Duan Jia Xu as one of the most green flag character in C-Drama.

Duan Jia Xu is a man who’s had the difficult life. After his father's accident, everything started falling apart , he had no money, his mother passed away and his father was left hospitalized (Eventually passed away as well).
He had to work hard while studying at the same time just to pay the penalty for his father’s accident and cover his father's medical expenses.
Despite everything he’s endured, he never shows anger or resentment toward anyone. He carries the weight of his past silently with grace and strength.
For years, he even avoids conflict with the daughter of the man who died in the car accident caused by his father , choosing silence and distance even though she still kept bothering him.
But when she tries to harm Sang Zhi, he finally takes a stand. And the way he handles it is simply brilliant, calm, lawful, and protective, he uses the law to firmly warn her to back off and never bother Sang Zhi again because she is the woman he loves (I am like WOW). It was powerful and smart.
When Duan Jia Xu realizes his feelings for Sang Zhi  and observes that she feels the same way, he doesn’t just jump into the relationship. He respectfully asks her if it’s okay for him to pursue her.
And that airport scene!! when Sang Zhi confesses her love. He doesn’t respond with words right away but his eyes say everything, I can clearly see his shock and disbelief, realizing for the first time that Sang Zhi had loved him since she was young. Chen Zhe Yuan’s acting in that scene is so good and full with emotion.
He never felt worthy of her love. He thought he didn’t deserve her yet instead of walking away he does the opposite.
He begins planning a future for them (Sometimes I get annoyed with male leads who assume the female lead would be happier with another guy, someone she doesn’t even love  just because they themselves are poor or going through a tough time. Like, come on! She loves you! If you truly want her to be happy, then be the one who makes her happy ,  don’t just give up so easily. That’s why I’m so glad Duan Jia Xu isn’t that type of character)
. He works harder, saves money, gathers the courage to approach her parents and ask for their permission.
His only goal is to make sure Sang Zhi will live a comfortable and happy life by his side.
Duan Jia Xu is truly a green flag male lead in C-dramas. He’s almost too good to be true  but that’s what makes him so unforgettable.
I love this character so much and I’ll definitely be watching this drama again.