Hidden Love

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Synopsis

When she was younger, Sang Zhi was secretly in love with her older brother’s best friend Duan Jia Xu despite their 5-year age gap. Some years later, she reconnects with him when she starts university. Now a woman, their story may take another turn.

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

What to say apart that it was simply cute from start to end! Hidden Love is the story of a first love that evolves into a solid relationship. The leads’ chemistry is over the top and the affection they have for one another is simply out of this world. No matter what comes their way, they just overcome it with tenderness and warmth. This drama just proves that you don’t need to have many back-and-forth in a relationship to make a credible story. I really hope I will stumble upon more of this type of dramas because it really feels good to just buckle up and enjoy the love ride. Highly recommended!

Analysis

• Characters
  Sang Zhi
  Duan Jia Xu
• The stages of the relationship
  14 vs. 19 years old, a great brother
  17 vs. 22 years old, first love
  20 vs. 25 years old, dating
  22 vs. 27 years old, the relationship
• The obstacles
  The 5-year age gap
  Duan Jia Xu’s past
  Sang Zhi’s brother
  Sang Zhi’s parents
  

Characters: Though Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu are 5 years apart, they both have common qualities that make them perfect together. Protection, endless love and affection are what they are willing to give to the other without asking for anything in return. Their bond is tender and moving. And you wish for only one thing: For them to be happy together.

Sang Zhi: Right from the beginning Sang Zhi (Zhao Lu Si) appears to be a feisty teenager who’s been spoiled by her parents and brother. She’s assertive and opinionated. Hence her constant bickering with her older brother Sang Yan (Victor Ma). Their dynamic was really hilarious to the point that it reminded me of my own fights with my siblings. When in need, Sang Zhi is more than capable of showing that ‘dark’ side of her if it means protecting the ones she loves. One of the scenes that really impressed me for instance is when Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu are at the restaurant. There, they meet Jia Xu’s ‘creditor’ Jiang Ying (the daughter of the bereaved family his father destroyed). Seeing them together makes her jealous and she throws a glass of water in Duan Jia Xu’s face. Sang Zhi’s response is immediate: She throws a glass of water in Jiang Ying’s (Xu Shi Xin) face as well. This is proof of Sang Zhi’s fighting spirit. She’s not one to be trifled with. Though she’s a tough cookie, Sang Zhi is also very pure and innocent when it comes to love and romance. As a teenager, she’s already willing to help Duan Jia Xu financially if in need. Her kindness is heartwarming. She really has at heart her man’s happiness, no matter at what age. Finally, I could not describe that character without mentioning her resilience and perseverance. Whether at work or in love, she doesn’t give in. She takes it upon herself to succeed. Her efforts pay off in the end: As an intern, her idea is selected by an important client, as a student she wins design awards, and as a lover she gets the man she loves. Last but not least, she’s overprotective; just like Duan Jia Xu. That’s what makes their couple so strong in my opinion. Both care a lot about the other and make the other’s needs come before their own.

Duan Jia Xu: Duan Jia Xu (Chen Zhe Yuan) is the greenest of flags. He’s kind, resilient, and overprotective. These are all qualities that he has in common with Sang Zhi and that he displays throughout the drama. Kindness towards his best friend’s younger sister who often gets into trouble. Resilience to endure the burden his father left on his shoulders at a young age. Overprotection because his girlfriend’s happiness is more important to him than anything else (work, money…). Duan Jia Xu also proves to be an excellent friend. When Sang Yan discovers the truth about his relationship with Sang Zhi, he’s mature enough to understand his friend’s reluctance and does his best to convince him otherwise. Though he’s been through a lot, Duan Jia Xu proves to be as innocent and pure as Sang Zhi. Before her, he’s never been nor interested in relationships. He spent a solitary existence thinking that he didn’t deserve to be loved by someone after everything that had happened to him. He already feels guilty towards the woman he would love, as he sees himself and his past as a burden too heavy to bear. That’s why, he’s never considered being in a relationship despite him being a great catch. Indeed, Duan Jia Xu is a handsome young man, who is also very successful at work as a video game programmer. For me Duan Jia Xu is the epitome of the sensitive man whose vulnerability is touching and whom you only wish to shield from the rest of the world.

The stages of the relationship: Hidden Love does an amazing job at describing the evolution of a relationship from its very beginning until its happy end (spoiler alert here 🙂 ). Even if the romance is present in every episode, the road for our lovers is a bumpy one that could’ve been a dead end if fate – and of course characters’ own actions – had not helped a little. I would say there are 4 main stages in Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu’s relationship worth mentioning, each linked with Sang Zhi’s age. The older she gets, the more serious the relationship becomes.

14 vs. 19 years old, a great brother: The story starts when Sang Zhi is 14. She unexpectedly meets Duan Jia Xu at her house, after he’s been invited by her older brother Sang Yan. She immediately finds him handsome, but no real feelings are involved yet. She sees him as a good substitute of her brother/parents whenever she gets in trouble at school. Duan Jia Xu, being the kind man he is, accepts to pretend he’s his brother in front of her teacher which rapidly ties the friendship between these two. Duan Jia Xu is a shoulder Sang Zhi can rely on, who doesn’t break his promises and knows how to keep secrets.

17 vs. 22 years old, first love: The romance really starts when Sang Zhi is in high school. She’s 17 and Duan Jia Xu is 22. He and Sang Yan go to the university. Now older, Sang Zhi starts falling for Jia Xu’s kindness and small gestures that he himself doesn’t even notice. He’s the one who shields her from embarrassment when she taints her skirt with blood during her period. He’s the one who takes her defense when she fights with her brother. He’s the one who accepts to tutor her in physics to improve her grades. Duan Jia Xu is so protective and kind that Sang Zhi can’t help but fall for him (and we understand why!). At that time, Sang Zhi starts collecting stuffed animals offered by Duan Jia Xu, as well as making paper stars on which she makes wishes. All of them are of course dedicated to Duan Jia Xu and his happiness.
As for Duan Jia Xu, he considers Sang Zhi as his precious little sister. He doesn’t want her to be in pain or feel bad. However, I could feel how moved he was by some of Sang Zhi’s actions. Though she’s still a poor teenager, she’s always trying to help him financially. She constantly finds him working part-time which makes her want to support him in any possible way. The cutest scene between these 2 is when they are at Sang Zhi’s house and have a conversation at night. Sang Zhi innocently tells him that she’s willing to help him pay his debt and to protect him from his creditors. I think this scene was a pivotal moment for Duan Jia Xu. He felt Sang Zhi’s sincerity in those simple words which planted the seeds of future mutual support. Their relationship takes an unexpected turn when Duan Jia Xu is forced to go back to his hometown Yihe because of his father. He establishes himself there, leaving behind Sang Zhi in Nanwu. On top of that, Sang Zhi misunderstands Duan Jia Xu’s situation. When she suddenly takes the plane to reunite with him, she sees him arriving at the airport with a woman (turns out she was his boss). She’s thus convinced that she’s his girlfriend and that it is now too late for her. Of course, Sang Zhi pretends that she’s been dumped by her online boyfriend to save the face and keep her feelings concealed in front of her crush. This could’ve been the end of Sang Zhi’s first love, but thankfully the story doesn’t stop there.

20 vs. 25 years old, dating: It takes about 3 to 4 years for the flame to rekindle and to burn even brighter. Sang Zhi is now starting university in Yihe, the same city where Duan Jia Xu now successfully works in. Concerned, Sang Yan reaches out to his friend to make sure that Sang Zhi is not alone in this new city. Duan Jia Xu gladly accepts to check out on his friend’s sister. But the atmosphere between them is tense and slightly uncomfortable. As if something had changed. Duan Jia Xu doesn’t understand why Sang Zhi is suddenly cold and distant towards him. But one thing’s for certain, he doesn’t like it. Just as much as he doesn’t like seeing other guys trying to seduce her. In several occasions, Duan Jia Xu ends up taking care of Sang Zhi. One time she confesses that she’s in love with someone who doesn’t like him back. Though she’s talking while drunk, Duan Jia Xu wrongly believes it is one of her classmates she’s referring to. That’s when tables start to turn. Duan Jia Xu realizes how much he missed Sang Zhi and how good he feels in her presence. He doesn’t want to let her go nor let anyone else take care of her. After a series of ups and downs, they both finally understand that their feelings are mutual. But Sang Zhi doesn’t want to give in that fast. First, she wants Jia Xu to seduce her. Of course, this doesn’t take much time before that stage turns into them dating. That phase in their story is also the most difficult one for the couple. While they are still trying to demonstrate their feelings, they are confronted with external problems that put in danger their fragile romance. Among them I would quote Jiang Ying and her obsession with Duan Jia Xu and more importantly Sang Zhi’s family who’s reluctant to accept the relationship. Meanwhile, Sang Zhi and Duan Jiao Xu prove to the world their are meant to last. They move in together, help each other when things get tough at work, and lean on one another when crisis arise like the death of Duan Jia Xu’s father – that scene at the cemetery was so moving by the way; it was a beautiful demonstration of love and affection. Every time, the pair comes out stronger than ever without ever thinking about breaking up (which was amazing honestly, this is so rare in Dramaland).

22 vs. 27 years old, the relationship: The last stage is the end of a cycle for Sang Zhi, as she graduates from college 2 years after starting her relationship with Duan Jia Xu. It’s a new beginning for Duan Jia Xu who can finally be with his loved one in Nanwu, closer to Sang Zhi’s family. And it’s the start of a new chapter for our couple who wishes to get married now and build a future together. Sang Zhi’s last words are probably the most beautiful of the drama:
‘Our story began when he was 22 years old. I used to hide secretly my thoughts for him. I didn’t dare to let anyone find out. I tried to be a better person to catch up with him. When I came to him, I just found that I never ran alone. He was also trying to run towards me. With five whole years, I healed the wounds of his youth and he fulfilled my young first love. Our story began when he was 22 years old and ends when I am 22 years old.‘
I believe this pretty much sums up how perfect they are for each other. It took time for them to really settle down together, but they were always drawn to each other.

The obstacles: Of course the relationship, like I mentioned, was punctuated by some ups and downs, essentially because of external forces (circumstances and people). Despite that, Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu managed to work through them together.

The 5-year age gap: There’s nothing you can really do against an age gap, that’s just how life is. Though it had a great importance in the early stages of Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu’s relationship (they were 14/17 and 19/22), they navigated through this difference with subtlety and warmth. Sang Zhi may have been considered too young and immature at 19, but she displayed her love for Duan Jia Xu with confidence and certainty. She never doubted her feelings, and never considered Duan Jia Xu as a childhood crush. He’s always been more than that in her eyes. Her assertiveness and faith in her love are what convinced her family that her relationship with Duan Jia Xu is worth giving it a go. As for Duan Xia Ju, he may have treated Sang Zhi as a little girl before. But when they reunite, he sees her as a real woman. His decision to be with her is the result of a long and careful consideration. He didn’t jump into the relationship without thinking. On the contrary he took his time to understand his feelings and plan his future with Sang Zhi. I think that’s the reason why the age gap in that situation didn’t really matter. Both were conscious that they are 5 years apart, but that didn’t sway their feelings at all. They had the maturity to reflect on their love and what it would mean for them to be together. They were not impulsive, but rather slowly opened up to each other before making the big jump. As they were both on the same wavelength and kew what they expected out of this relationship, age really just became a number.

Duan Jia Xu’s past: Duan Jiao Xu’s family history is surely the biggest obstacle the duo is confronted with. Though it’s totally irrelevant for Sang Zhi – she loves him with his faults and imperfections – it is a matter of discussion for her family. When he was in high school, Duan Jia Xu’s father ran over a man while drunk and took off in his car. The man died. Unable to withstand his guilt, his father jumped out of the apartment window. He ended up in a coma. Meanwhile, Duan Jia Xu and his mother had to bear the burden of the accident. They got into debt to compensate the family and worked day and night to make ends meet. On top of that, Duan Jia Xu became the son of a murderer at school, and started to make constant amends towards his classmate Jiang Ying (the victim’s daughter). Duan Jia Xu’s mother pushed her son to go to college which made them go into even more debt. When she discovered she had cancer, she refused treatment to avoid the enormous medical bills. She died, leaving behind a wounded Duan Jia Xu. Alone, he had to take care of his mother’s funeral, his father’s medical bills at the hospital and the bereaved family. Over the years, Jiang Ying kept harassing Duan Jia Xu and developed a certain obsession with him. Her feelings have never been reciprocated, but she represented a flying liability in Jia Xu’s relationship with Sang Zhi. That being said, Sang Zhi made it clear that she would protect Duan Jia Xu from Jiang Ying’s pestering; as did Duan Jia Xu by warning her that he would call the police if she were to ever bother Sang Zhi again. When Duan Jia Xu starts his relationship with Sang Zhi, he’s holding by a thread. He’s alone and doesn’t connect out of fear of hurting people. However, he doesn’t bear any resentment towards anyone and simply shoulders his burden silently. From the get-go Sang Zhi proves to be a good ally. She carries him up and reconcile him with his past. The fact that she healed him without asking for anything in return makes Duan Jia Xu determined to do the same. He patiently cuts all loose ends of his past, and asserts his love in front of Sang Zhi’s parents.

Sang Zhi’s brother: Sang Yan is one of my favorite characters of the drama. He’s the best older brother one can dream of. He’s also backing up Sang Zhi and protecting her, despite their constant bickering. When he discovers that his best friend is dating his little sister, he’s of course unhappy. Nevertheless, his sister’s happiness is what matters most to him. He clearly sees how smitten they are with each other. Though he’s reluctant at first, Sang Yan becomes the couple’s ally in front of his own parents.

Sang Zhi’s parents: The reaction of Sang Zhi’s parents upon learning about their daughter’s relationship is totally understandable in my opinion. She’s still 19, is not at home anymore and is with an older man who has been through difficult times in his past. That being said, it is only normal for her parents to be worried about their daughter’s well-being. They are overprotective – which seems to be a trait that runs in the family – and want to make sure that she’s not making a mistake. I really appreciated how they voiced their concerns to Duan Jia Xu. Sang Zhi’s father sat down with him and openly expressed how unsure he was, because he was scared Duan Jia Xu’s past may make Sang Zhi suffer. He also apologized for being so direct and straightforward which is pretty rare in dramas. Knowing how good Duan Jia Xu is, Sang Zhi’s parents didn’t want to cause him any pain either. But their daughter would always come first. Duan Jia Xu was mature enough to read between the lines. He didn’t get upset or anything, just like Sang Zhi when she found out that her parents had asked Duan Jia Xu to reconsider their relationship. Instead, she went to him to confess every last bit of her secrets she had not mentioned (how long she’s been in love with him, how great he is, how much she loves him). Meanwhile, Duan Jia Xu takes it upon himself to prove his worth to Sang Zhi’s parents by reassuring them and taming their concerns. Both their behaviors comforted Sang Zhi’s parents who ended up accepting the relationship for the better.

P.S.: The OSTs of that drama are so well adapted to the overall cozy, cocooning, warm ambiance, don’t you think?