Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan’s Sweet Romance in “Hidden Love”
Post-95 flower Rosy Zhao Lusi (趙露思) and Chen Zheyuan’s (陳哲遠) romantic idol drama Hidden Love <偷偷藏不住> broke ten thousand on charts merely 30 hours after premiering! The first love romance follows Sang Zhi who sneaks away to Duan Jia Xu’s city intending to confess her feelings for him, but ends on a bittersweet note.
Adapted from novelist Zhu Yi’s (竹已) work of the same name, the story’s emotionally vivid narration of its female protagonist Sang Zhi developing a secret crush won praise from readers, given that she wrote the book when she was just 20.
Rosy’s Crying Scene Gets Thumbs Up
With the story’s main groundwork built up, the plot continued unfolding, with Sang Zhi taking the next step to befriend Duan Jia Xu virtually on the internet, after realizing she lacked the courage to confess her true feelings. Upon hearing from her brother Sang Yan (played by Victor Ma 馬伯騫) that her crush is already attached, she abruptly flies to his city to verify for herself, but spots him with a female companion at the airport – leading to the first climactic scene where queen of chemistry Zhao Lusi turns viewers teary-eyed with her touching crying scene.
Holding her tears in upon realizing Duan Jia Xu’s attached status, her tears come rolling down as she turns her back – and she equally uncontrollably falls to her knees in an outburst once hidden from view. Perfectly portraying the heartbreak of a failed secret crush, netizens are hailing Rosy Zhao’s crying scene as the “textbook example”, with thumbs-up comments, “Zhao Lusi’s crying scenes are too infectious”, “Her crying scenes nailed it and this is not the first time they’ve struck me”, “Every time I see her cry, I will end up crying too!”
Intentionally breaking contact, Sang Zhi avoids responding to Duan Jia Xu’s messages and the two’s next encounter comes only in their college years. Losing her youthful girly innocence, she has become good at dolling herself through makeup. As the two’s relationship grow even more ambiguous, audiences are hoping for romantic sweetness ahead, as the plot twists have “tortured” them up till now!
Source: Upmedia
The first episode is very cringy to me, I’m sorry. I love ZLS and I like the ML too, but the whole time I couldn’t help but think this is pedophilic. If they had casted someone else (a younger boy) as the FL’s younger self crush, then it would’ve made it easier to digest. But seeing ML flirt with someone who looks like she’s 12-14 was gross. They’ve totally convoluted the term “little sis” into some ambiguous meaning (though to be fair this was how I felt back when people used to call each other godbro/sis.) It’s just eck. I’m having a hard time moving past episode 1.
If you need convincing, just go to the MDL page, the hard fans there will argue it better for you lol. I saw the trailer and it seems awkward AF, idk, the whole trailer I was feeling awkward n uncomfortable :/ so definitely not checking this one out for sure. Also I’m not into the whole secret crush thing, maybe I’m too old. Lol!
Lol, yea, I read their responses too, but from YouTube. There was a comment explaining very well what went wrong with this drama, and it has nothing to do with ZLS! He basically said the flow of the story (starting from when they are young until present time, instead of starting at present time and incorporate flashback), the lighting, camera angle, everything makes it feel awkward and uncomfortable to watch as it showcase the male perspective and actions, and along with inappropriate use of words, the whole thing is just wrong.
And then I have a bunch of ppl explaining it’s ok because he didn’t mean it lol! But yea, there’s hard fans out there! Are you watching destined?
I will wait till later to watch this drama…does not sound like iit will be light hearted viewing…
I think it is? Or at least it try to be, but first few episodes make ppl feel uncomfortable/awkward. Watch the trailer n make up your mind. Some suggest to start at later episodes to avoid the whole thing all together lol, I think it’s ep7? Based on MDL discussion
I finally left my responses on MDL because I couldn’t understand why this drama is rated so highly. The lengths these users go to, to argue why this drama (for the 1st 3 episodes is ok) is laughable – but not really surprising.
Someone even said I jumped to conclusions too quickly after watching 3 episodes lmao! I stop watching after 1 episode if a drama doesn’t intrigue me, let alone 3. I am pushing thru for ZLS and CZY, but yea, don’t watch this drama until later episodes cus it’s gonna make you wanna cringe
@Coralie Lol, yea, I read their responses too, but from YouTube. There was a comment explaining very well what went wrong with this drama, and it has nothing to do with ZLS! He basically said the flow of the story (starting from when they are young until present time, instead of starting at present time and incorporate flashback), the lighting, camera angle, everything makes it feel awkward and uncomfortable to watch as it showcase the male perspective and actions, and along with inappropriate use of words, the whole thing is just wrong.
And then I have a bunch of ppl explaining it’s ok because he didn’t mean it lol! But yea, there’s hard fans out there! Are you watching destined?
@LittleFish @Coralie I am loving Destined. This pair is fun to watch. Have you both started?
@Hohliu @LittleFish I haven’t started Destined yet; it seems promising! I haven’t really been able to finish any drama this year that felt hype-worthy to me. I’m hoping this drama will be different. I feel slightly reluctant to start as a result.
@Coralie I know exactly what you mean!!! I often start on a drama…forward most of the show as the fillers are so uanessacry. Often it just get dragged on too long. China have lots of very well written novels but their script writers are just so controlled by investors demands… So disappointing. I have yet to 100% follow thru with a drama without pressing the forward button.
@Hohliu nope, after TTEOTM, I haven’t cared for any drama lol. I think TVB ruined me lol. I used to enjoy period drama back in tvb days, where it likes 20eps. I think there was one with similar vibe like this one, marry first fall in love later, n I love that one lol. Cdrama, for these kind of period drama, I always feel it’s a drag lol. Plus watched a few YouTube cuts and don’t feel it, not the chemistry (even though they are lovers), not the story, plus Sha yi’s face just make me want to laugh and go watch keep running lawl!
@LittleFish I can feel your pain…Lol,
I honestly don’t have an issue with the premise of this story. 5 years is not a huge age gap. However, my issue is the way they told this story. She’s supposed to be 14 when she meets him, but they hired an 11 year old. Then on top of that, they play all this romantic music, soft lighting, etc. I get they’re trying to show her crush, but did they have to film all those glances he gives her too? I feel like they could’ve made it much more platonic and still show that she had a school girl crush. I powered through by skipping a lot of those scenes. I like my sweet candy dramas, and enjoy parts of their story when she’s in college, but they continue to bring up that he’s an “old man”, can be her “dad”, like “her family member” or calling her a “child”. I wish they could leave those “jokes” behind and just move on. Every time those references come up, I cringe. I gave this drama a fair shot (10 episodes). I think I’m going to call it quits.
@lilseemonster Funny you said that, my twitter feed has someone praising 1 particular moment in the drama follow with the caption: I love how ML said this word (get up/come on), it likes coaxing a child, he’s so gentle. Me =_=“ lol
@LittleFish I have such a hard time with this one. The constant emphasis that he’s like family, and the fact that they keep calling him “lao gege” is a total turn off. Every time I just think they’re presenting it like pedophilia and incest.