I love this story, I sincerely hope the adaptations does full justice to the story. I felt that the girl could have opened and bit more towards the relationship, it would be wonderful if the final chapter has touched more on that... the book is a classic case of she fell first, but he fell harder... I love the fact that in spite of the parents disapproval they didn’t break up, but he tried to become better person, so that the parents will give their blessings.. how maturely they handled...... more>> instead of long melodrama break ups. The girl has never loved anyone from the age of 13, whilst her teenage years it looked as if her dream was unattainable - fate had other plans. Another interesting point the drama is the lesson that society have to judge a person for his or her own deeds/merits and not for the parents deeds... ! This is an important message for the Asian culture. Maybe its cultural, I feel there could have been more warmth between them after the love making scene, I guess how they didn’t address it, main female lead didn’t want to address is a cultural thing, they don’t talk about it. I like how naughty the main ML lead is.

One aspect I wish, they could have focused less is the constant reference to him as an old man - there was was about 7 years gap between them, is it a cultural thing I wonder? The insinuation that 30 years is so old....I think it’s important for the society to understand relationships and happiness should not be age associated. I felt there was too much emphasis on it in a negative way. <<less

A recommendation for the audience, you will have a great laugh and sweet feeling reading this book. The flow and the story was brought nicely, I could feel what the the author intends me to feel. A nice translation and ofcourse a fast one too.

I really love this book. It's well written and translated. The story is realistic in my opinion. I do not understand why people gave bad rating for this novel. This novel taught a lesson about how important family responsibilities are. I love how the MC and ML could overcome everything together, it was very heartwarming and sweet. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this as I fell in love with these wonderful characters.

The plot, the characters and their interactions were all perfect! I’m even a bit reluctant to watch the drama cause I want this to remain as perfect as it was in my head.

This novel is sooo cute. I first encoutered it's manhua version and the illustration is just chef's kiss! It's on going so I tried the novel. The translated version is not perfect. Seems like MTL'd. I hope it gets better along the way.

The ML really took his time to figire out his feelings. It makes sense though coz he is surely a perv if he liked as a lady the 13yo sister of his friend.

And I like the gestures of the FL to prove her crush for the ML. She... more>> is immature but it makes a good contrast to show age difference.

I'll stop reading the novel for now and wait for the manhua to catch up. Ill update the review soon :) <<less

This is a sweet story. From puppy love, to growing and actually falling in love. A great relationship with communication, respect, and love. Very sweet read. The story was good and the characters engaging enough to make me read it in one go. Highly recommend.

The translation is a bit rough, but not that hard to understand.

I found this as a manhua and was draw to the story and found the light novel. Overall, a very fluffy story and if the characters were real I would love to hug Shang Zhi cause she seems so cute. Only this I wasn't a fan of was the mistakes with the translations as I would often get confused with the hers and he's and so on...

When you actually read a Novel which has a consecutive 5 stars rating, I'm telling you do not waste any more time and read it right away!!! This is one of the best Novels out there. To think that I'm not fond of Modern Story but this one really changes my perspective.. It makes me laugh, cry, and fall in love with the story so much! I cannot imagine anyone who would fit the ML except the FL. She is Bold, Straightforward and expresses her feelings so well. 100% Recommended!!!

Good character and plot development. Though I thought the MC was too childish until around the 28th chapter.

It was a slow burn so there were times it was boring to continue.

Still secretly, secretly is a good feel novel. I recommend this if you're looking to pass time.

Appreciate the translation efforts of 88tang. Cheers~

This is a great story that will be one of the best books for me ! ≪3 It is a story full of all feelings, happy, hilarious, sad, and warm. If anyone is looking for a sweet filling. A story that is not too heavy, lighthearted and refreshing ~ And it gives a deep and intimate feeling to the characters. I really recommend this one.

I love all the relationships between the characters. Love in every growth and attitude. The love and understanding between Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu. The relationship... more>> between Sang Zhi's siblings and Sang Yan's. The relationship between Sang Yan's friend and Duan Jiaxu, etc.

He deserves to be loved and truly deserves to be loved. And I am grateful to Sang Zhi for being the light in his life. I will have to pick this up and read it over and over again in my heartbreaking moments. And definitely watch the series again!

Spoiler

For anyone who hesitates to watch the series. I think they're pretty good, even very good. Maybe it was because I originally liked Zhao Lusi? Lol. But they did really well even though some parts were cut. And I felt that some parts of the series went deeper into the aspect of Duan Jiaxu's relationship with other people, such as colleagues. And I love the little add-on at the end ~ it's so sweet and makes me smile no less than the book!

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Thanks for the great story <3 <<less

I skip until chapter 30. For someone like me who cringe reading general stage of adolescents' (10-14) love story better to skip it until chapter 30. Of course you needed to read the first chapters so that you know who is who. I dont like reading such so when I reach about 13 chaps I skip to 30. C30 is when they met again when FL is 18 and ML is 25.

I wish the author didnt wrote this way. They met when she was 13 and he was 20, she's... more>> barely a teen. He even saw her first period, it was both cringey and really embarrassing. I think it would be better if the author wrote the early chaps as flashbacks. But I also hate flashbacks so im 50/50. Or just snippets of the past, no need to elaborate it just vague of how they interact.

But this is really good. <<less

22/10/22 - The day that I finished reading Secretly, Secretly; But Unable to Hide It.

First, I want to say thank you for the translators of the novel and special chapters! You guys are the best! My standard in men just go up! Up! You let me know that DJX exists!

The first Chinese Novel that I've read, I can't exactly put my overwhelmed feelings into words😭

Things that I love in this Novel:

• The plot, main characters and their character development.
• a light one (seeing the chapters, I thought author will drag the story by having misunderstandings between the MCs but it turned out to be just what I hoped for to witness, instead of bunch of MUs, fights, cheating issues etc.)
• I love the FL so much! She's honest more than anyone I know in this manhwa/manhua/webtoon/novel world. More honest FL, less problems!
• Spoiler

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  The ML, wow! He's perfect without his coward father that almost ruined his son's lifetime
• Spoiler

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  The special chapters where ML scared me! It was well written that me and the FL could exactly feel the same how ML became scary when he attack RG. It made me remember how ML almost burn JY's palm outside his apartment. Bruh! That REALLY scared me! And it was because of FL encouraging words to him and I also thought it's because he low-key has a crush on the FL back then when FL splashed back water on JY. No one was able to protect DJX thwle way she did that's why I think he doesn't let JY to bully him anymore. Actually, not to mention when someone bully the FL too (because of the FL friend who summoned her near internet cafe) ML be like : an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.

The things that I want to see more, and I am shameless as ML so here's the list ✍️

• I want to see a glimpse of their marriage life and family life
• DHX POV about when he met SZ for the first time. I want to know if he somehow planted a small feelings bean for her 🤭
• Did DJX notice SZ feelings back then? I want to know if SZ is really good at hiding her feelings for him

That's all!

I'm happy that I finished reading this novel before the manhwa did🤭

And the bonus part is there will be a drama adaption of this! I hope that the MC will give justice and satisfy my imagination while reading this novel!

Emotional. I felt so sad for our adorable MC throughout the whole story. I really can't imagine how much pain she went through by herself, desperately trying to hold in her love ever since she was just 13 years old, and the devastation she felt that time that she still had to bury deep in her heart. Even after they got together it still makes me so sad. I'm really so glad that the ML managed to see her notes and her stars, and I hope he realized how much... more>> she went through for him and treats her even better. My heart really goes out to her. The ML is also a very pitiful character, and his own desperation and inferiority complex is very depressing as well. He definitely needed someone as passionate and loving and dedicated as our MC to help bring him out of that.

The translation leaves much to be desired: very slightly edited MTL at best. Pronouns are all over the place, maybe reading the actual MTL paired with raws would have been better. The extras translations are inaccessible now for some reason, have to be MTL'd. Quite regrettable that the execution was like this--I feel like the story would have been very beautiful if the translation was done properly. <<less

I’m too tired from binging this all night to write a cohesive review. But it’s perfect. Extremely hilarious, with the right balance of romance and drama. The characters are extremely well-written, and the pace is perfect. I loved every second of it.

This may be the best age gap novels I'v ever read and actually executed properly.

Fluffy romance and realistic development of relationship. Characters have personalities and are actually three-dimensional.

A solid 10/10 and I think this novel definitely deserves a score higher than 4.6

It's cute fluff. To be honest, I'm not very fond stories where the FL chases the ML or is blatantly expressing her "affection. (FL is not entirely like that, rest assured). It's because most of the time female leads tend to become dumb or make themselves look s*upid, not cute but s*upid. But in here, although I felt that the FL is sometimes (2 or 3 if I remember correctly) finding ways and reasons to see the ML, I was glad she was being careful. It was a cute s*upid... more>> image in my mind. I like that she did not relentlessly chased the ML (in secret). Most of it remained in her thoughts and at the few times she almost let her feelings out it was out of impulse and immaturity. But I like her character.

As for the ML, I feel bad about his childhood and his experience. How it affected his life and even his perception of himself and his worth. I'm just glad that he met the FL and they were both by each other's side.

In the past, I have always ignored this one bec of an awkward impression I had reading the synopsis. I'm glad I gave it a chance. <<less

The story is great. Very heartwarming and the brother - sister, FL/ML, family interactions are a hoot!

But - the translation quality let down the enjoyment of this book. It really needs editing. My thanks though to the translator for the effort.

I've already watched "Hidden Love" and love it so I read the novel. Both are great! I really really love the main couple and of course the siblings! After reading so many possessive Male character, this one is a breath of fresh air. A good feel story that I will reread again.

This is a good story, its light, fluffy. A story to accompany your hectic and tired day, or jusr wanna killed time with good love story.

Like the tittle, it was a story aboyt two character with their hidden love. Not a complicated one. FL realizes her feeling, tho her action actually showed her affection towards ML, but it still considered unshowed. While ML never realize his feeling actually not only simple attention towards brother and sister. Understandable since, their first accounter FL still ini 7 or 8 (forget) grade... more>> and he has a lot on his plate.

After the separation tho, he can known his own feeling, and of course because FL also in age that you can see her now as an young adult, someone who ML can falling love with without feeling guilty.

I like both of the MC characters, tho FL is pampered girls, she is not s*upid, she knows what she want, she fought for it, innocent yet mischievous, know which was right and which one was wrong.

Its a good light, fluffy romance reading. <<less

I love this one very much like it's one of my favorite novels until now n I heard they r gonna make a series from this novel I can't wait the story is sooo beautiful I love every character and the communication between the author did a very good job