I got in trouble for this (even though I'm right) 🙃 | Netflix's Hidden Love Ep 3, 4, 5 | Reaction 

it's just her childhood crush and he never saw her that way he even call her kiddo....half of the drama is her pov of having a crush in childhood and growing up with it😊

I’ve been watching CDramas for over a year, the age thing is a common trope. However they always wait until legal age (21 and up) for marriage or going further. The one hiding their love in this show is the female lead, not the guy. I watched it with some trepidation as well, but also remind myself I’m watching from the perspective of another culture. But I was relieved with how it was portrayed, especially with the brothers’ reaction. If you’re going to be delving in CDrama world, it’s best to dissect after the first quarter of the series (in this case after about 6-8 episodes) and compared to American drama, it’s is a lot more PG

I think u don't even understand how their relationship was at the beginning. The Male Lead did NOT see the Female Lead as a love interest, but as a sister. The Female Lead also did NOT see him as a love interest until she was 17. They didn't do anything until she was an adult and then there is no problem. End of discussion. Age Gap is only a problem, when one of them is a minor and they only get together, when she is an adult. That they knew each other for a long time, doesn't mean he had any romantic interest in her, before she became an adult. 5 Years is really not that big of a deal and the show even discusses the age gap multiple times. U on the first few Episodes and already assume things, that the show clearly debunks later. He didn't see her in a romantic way at all, until she enters the same University and they meet again after a misunderstanding. The first romantic feelings came from her and not from him. He kept his distance and never did anything inappropriate. He treated her like a sister and everything romantic happened, after she became an adult. So i am sorry to break it to you...but maybe watch the whole show, before u think u right...cause u not.

I PROMISE HE'S NOT INTERESTED IN HER LIKE THAT :((( SHE JUST HAS THIS INNOCENT CRUSH LIKE WE ALL DID TEENS AT SOME POINT-. HE ONLY SEES HER LATER ON WHEN SHE GROWS UP TRUST ME IT GETS BETTER And i swear like im usually the type of person to not even accept like a 16 year old w a 18 year old. But in this show he doesnt even see her like that when she is a child/under 18 so its fine. Just think and view it from her pov

I watched Hidden Love because of the memes about their age gap so I got curious. I was skeptical and scared at the first episodes because I be thinking "when will the romance between them start?" Fortunately, the way their romance started took away my doubts on this story and I LOVED IT. When he started to see her as a woman when she protected him to the crazy woman. It like emphasizes that he started to like her at that moment (when she's a fully grown adult)

Lol that's why I guess most people enjoy rewatching the show from Ep 9, not Ep 1.

Imma start this off by saying this is one of my favorite dramas so I'm biased. The cast has some of the best chemistry I've seen in a cdrama. I knew people who were 5 years older than me in high school (I was young for my grade so some of the seniors were 5 yrs older than me) who I kept in contact with once they entered college and adulthood. Difference here is he starts to interact with her at 22 and she's 16-17. When he FIRST meets her she's younger, however they don't fully start to become friends until she is 16-17. My one issue is, I wish they had never casted a younger actress to play child Sang Zhi. The drama probably should have started at the 16-17 year old Sang Zhi and they shouldv'e left out the initial meeting and changed how they first met. I noticed you said you cant "root for them" and that's exactly what the drama is supposed to make you feel. Their relationship during her HS days isn't a relationship your'e meant to root for as it is fully one sided. He never has any romantic thoughts for her, she is the one with the romantic thoughts and childhood crush delusions. As you will come to see, Lusi does a fantastic job at showing the difference between child Sang Zhi and adult Sang Zhi. I had not seen Lusi in a drama before this one and I genuinely thought "adult Sang Zhi" was a different actress. I think how you're reacting is exactly how you're meant to react to their story. I really hope you see the drama all the way to the end as I think its a fantastic drama. And as always we have remember this is a work of fiction. Age gap relationships are a big trope in Asia and 5 years isn't a bad gap at all compared to some other dramas. If you really want a strange age gap one to react to, watch falling high school girl and irresponsible teacher (jdrama on Viki). That one is actually insane. *Im dyslexic so sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes*

Yeah but it's not like he has any romantic feelings for her when she's in school. He treats her like a kid at that point. It's only later on when they're both adults that he slowly starts liking her. A 5 year age-gap isn't ideal in my opinion, but it's pretty fucking common. It only became an issue in this drama because he was her brother's best friend, so at points he treated her as an extension of her brother.

As someone who has watched Asian dramas for years I can say this is not how normal age gap relationship develops. The ML lines clearly show him flirting. The things he says is not normal for a sister relationship. I had an issue with it when I started watching and I rarely have an issue with any kind of trope. This is probably the first time. I don’t care if they met when she was young and she had a crush, that’s fine. The problem is his dialogue and how the director has him look at her and react to what she does. People saying ‘oh he doesn’t like her,’ are the same people that don’t realize what makes an actor good or bad due to micro expressions. This is what I mean by flirting: “You stole so many glances at me I can’t let you do that for free.” Also the car scene in ep 2. This story would have been completely fine if it was shot a different way and the script was tightened for him. It’s just a matter of editing and all the problems would be fixed.

Read the (badly translated, unfortunately) novel first. It gives you a better understanding of her feelings (it is basically from her POV). The show did a great job of developing the story. In the book, the age gap is almost 7 years (6 years, 11 months to be exact, because the character says so himself). In the show they cut it to 5 because Chen Zheyuan looks so young even though he was about 25 when he shot it. 😁 They don't cross any lines when she was a minor. And even when they are adults, they go about it slowly. IRL, a 5-year gap is nothing, really.

Well, the reason I dont have a problem with the age gap its because nothing really happens between them till she's a grown up adult and they just act like sibiling at the start. Also she got a crush on him when she was 17 not before. I honestly think that you should watch the series completely cuse only then you will understand why the age gap isn't really a problem here (Furthermore its only a 5 years gap, trust me, it could be worst)

completely random but love the seventeen reference lmaooooooo (I'm carat lol)

so sad that ppl just don't get it...when a 22 yo seduces/like the 17-year- old, it makes me uncomfortable. but this drama is about a 17-year-olds old had a crush on a 22-year- old...when did a teenager crush suddenly become a crime or something disgusting? Lots of teenage girls have a crush on someone older because boys are mostly immature at the same age compared to adult men.

You could have and should have known that everything was innocent because the main male lead never showed any inappropriate behavior nor was shown to have any inappropriate thoughts in those first few episodes you watched,when she was underage. It was shown from the main female lead's point of view and she was clearly a child with a sweet "crush" on an older male. You jumped to your own conclusion about this being some kind of perverted situation before you even watched how it would play out.

I saw a lot ppl Was bothered by the age gap(mostly the western) as if western actress didn’t act inappropriate scene at age of 16 with a 40yr old men.. the double standard is too obvious. anw everyone in the comments already explained pretty much everything that should be said but as someone who read the book before watching the drama i wanna add a few word so take this as a grain of salt. In the book the age gap is actually 7yrs but they lessened it into 5yrs, did I felt uncomfortable reading it? No! Because first of all I’m Asian and dating and marriage before 20s is pretty common here, second it’s because sangzhi affection towards zishu started as admiration towards a handsome smart gege which is very common if you read Chinese novel or should I say Asians? She only realized her feelings when she was 17. Its that crime? No!. I, myself started having a crush on someone when I was 10 which is why I was so baffled why the age gap is such a big issue.

He tells her. The moment he liked her was the first snow. He didnt think of her like that when they were younger. You should have just stopped watching it if you feel a kind of way. Your reactions has changed a full 180.

I agree with you.. it's just not right and why do they believe this is okay?

I will not repeat what other had explain to you in comments ❤😂..but l totally understand your initial reaction when you though have Idea its was between minor and adult Which is big No .. but the story is not like that. ..i remember when This was airing i was planning to watch it when it end ..but i was spoiled so much in social media/RU-vid..so dropped ... -since long time whatever Chinese.. Korean.. dramas..west.. or other cinema industry there is stories with age gap forget 5 years..some are 10 to 15 years.. i don't think its wrong ..as much as two are adults ... althoug i want to note that in ancient times /century.. adult age is not same as adult now.(legally )..i mean male at age of 15 /16 years was considered man who must work and start be responsible... female 16 /17 year also were considered mature(physically or mentally)and can be married... this way in Historical dramas although age in not mentioned but there is often age gap between leaders .. -i might follow your journey in order to see your view/comments...but l hope you can post longer reaction like one or two episodes per video in 30 min

I’m to focused on your skin lol! Glass skin for sure but I never seen this show actually

I’m sorry but you are totally right. I never liked the book and i never watched this drama because i share the same opinion as you. I don’t care if people don’t understand it. That’s what i think my value and my moral and i can’t go over it to please everyone. I suggest u to stick at what You think and your opinion as you always do because there is nothing wrong and you aren’t the only one, trust me. I have no hate for the actors but i hope they choose better project for the future. I mean, just seing the actor being the same while young with the little girl and then adult it’s just...😮‍💨 i just couldn’t. Anyway, good luck with the review