All the ‘Hidden Love for You’ Drama Backlash Explained

‘Hidden Love for You’ Short Drama Pulled Amid Copyright Dispute: Key Lessons for the Chinese Entertainment Industry (Youku)

The Chinese drama world has found itself in hot water again, and this time it’s all about copyright, fan loyalty, and maybe a bit of rushing the creative process. We’re talking about Hidden Love for You, the short drama that tried to ride the coattails of a hit, only to get yanked from platforms shortly after launch. So, what actually went wrong — and what can the industry learn from it?

A Case of “Too Soon, Mate”

If you blinked, you might’ve missed it. Hidden Love for You dropped not long after the 2023 smash-hit Hidden Love (yup, the one with Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan that melted everyone’s hearts). The new short-form version was adapted from the same novel by Zhu Yi, but here’s the kicker — the production team didn’t secure the proper rights. Oops.

Once the legal side kicked in, the drama was quickly taken down. A peaceful settlement followed, but the damage had been done. Fans were fuming, the original IP holders were frustrated, and the wider industry took note.

Rushing a Legacy Never Ends Well

One year between adaptations? That's a bold move. In places like Hollywood or Japan, spin-offs and reboots usually wait until the original's had time to settle into legacy status. You don’t just walk into people’s hearts and try to replace their emotional attachment overnight.

Fans weren’t buying it. They felt this new version wasn’t offering anything truly fresh — just a fast-tracked copycat trying to cash in on the hype.

The Short Drama Format: Not for Every Story

Sure, short dramas are booming in China right now — low budgets, quick turnarounds, and super bingeable. But Hidden Love is a slow-burn coming-of-age story, filled with emotional build-up and subtle character growth. Squeezing that into bite-sized episodes is like trying to fit a full-course meal into a snack box. You just lose the flavour.

The Power of Fan Memory

Let’s not forget — Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan’s version isn’t just a drama. For many, it’s the definitive portrayal of Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi. In Chinese fandom culture, once an actor nails a role, any remake faces massive pressure. You can’t just swap faces and expect fans to move on. That emotional connection? It's real — and marketing teams ignore it at their peril.

What Other Markets Get Right

Look at Japan, Korea, or the US — when they expand an IP, they don’t just remake the same story. They explore the world around it. Think WandaVision or The Cursed Child, or how Rurouni Kenshin keeps coming back in new forms: live-action, rebooted anime, stage plays, merch — the whole lot. It’s about building a universe, not just remaking one plot over and over.

China’s catching on, but Hidden Love for You shows there’s still a learning curve.

What the Experts Say

Industry voices like Li Jing and Li Fangfang have flagged that short dramas can’t rely on quantity anymore — quality’s the name of the game now. The market’s flooded, and if you’re not doing something different or high-calibre, you’re just noise.

Producers like Cai Yinong and veteran creatives like Zhang Jialu echo the same: adapting an IP isn’t just about copying a script. It’s about reimagining it. And if you don’t bring something new to the table — emotionally or stylistically — the audience tunes out.

Even top-tier director Zheng Xiaolong has warned that slapping a famous name onto a half-baked production doesn’t make it watchable. Bad is still bad — IP prestige won’t save it.

Smarter Ways to Use an IP

So, what could the team have done instead of a rushed short drama? Here's a few ideas that actually work:

• Donghua (Animation): New art style, same heart.

• Audio Dramas: Super popular these days — immersive and cost-effective.

• Character Spin-Offs: Want to explore Duan Jiaxu’s past? Go for it. Sang Yan already got his own arc in The First Frost.

• AU Webtoons or Manhua: Fans love alternate universes done well.

• Variety Shows: Imagine the original cast just hanging out, unscripted? People would eat that up.

• Stage Plays: Japan does this all the time. The drama world could learn a thing or two.

Hidden Love for You isn’t the first adaptation to fumble — and it won’t be the last. But it does stand as a cautionary tale. Rushing an IP, ignoring fan expectations, and skipping proper legal channels is a sure-fire recipe for backlash.

If the Chinese entertainment industry wants to make the most of beloved stories, it needs to stop chasing trends and start building long-term creative ecosystems. That means respecting the original work and the emotional investments fans have made.

Because at the end of the day, stories live on not just through rights and remakes — but through the hearts of those who loved them the first time around.