Hidden Love (Novel) Vol. 1

Hidden Love – 偷偷藏不住 #1

by Zhu Yi, W. Tay (Translator)

The novel that inspired the hit Chinese drama—streaming on Netflix! A sweet story about a high school crush that might just become a real chance at romance.

Sang Zhi is thirteen, top of her class, endlessly feisty, and completely uninterested in romance. In fact, her biggest talent seems to be driving her older brother crazy. Then she meets Duan Jiaxu, her brother’s college roommate.

Warm, teasing, and impossibly kind, Duan Jiaxu treats her like the little sister she insists she isn’t. For the first time, she finds herself lingering in doorways, plotting ridiculous schemes, and guarding a secret crush she knows she shouldn’t have. Time passes. Life pulls them apart.

Years later, in college, a chance reunion brings them face-to-face again. Yet Sang Zhi is no longer the awkward girl he remembers. As old feelings resurface, she begins to wonder whether the boy who once saw her as a child might finally see her differently…or if some distances can never truly be crossed.

Genres: Romance

308 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2026

About the author

Associated Names:
* Zhu Yi (English)
* 竹已 (Chinese)
* จู๋อี่ (Thai)

Reviews

[Jules Vandemberg]

My babies

[Michaela]

Sang Zhi is a menace. 😍

[Inge C]

3,5 stars. I did watch the C-drama first. This book only tells the first part. I'll have to wait for the heartfluttering part, vol. 2, until December... And already pre-ordered, as I will probably pre-order vol. 3 afterwards, let's be honest :-)

This is a romance I want my children to read/watch one day. It has a few lessons I wish I knew when I was a teenager, about interactions between boys and girls, treating others with respect, about how to show interest in someone in a subtle way (that'll be in vol. 2)... So delicate but truly heartfluttering.

Vol. 1 is about the teenage years and the first months after they meet again. It's rather cute than heartfluttering but necessary to fully comprehend the story afterwards.

(I actually do wonder if this is a true translation of the original book? Or an adapted translation that also incorporated some elements of the C-drama? There are very few and only small differences with the C-drama. It contains so many details in behaviour that were indeed filmed like that, so I wonder...)

[Monica]

Cute. The C Drama is definitely true to the story. So far so good.

[rosie ୭ ˚. !!]

so cutee! i love how the drama is actually so similar to the novel im truly surprised and can’t wait for vol 2 i need it rn omg