LayarHijau – Shira Media, a publishing house based in Sleman, Yogyakarta, has officially announced that it will release Indonesian-language translations of the popular novels Hidden Love and The First Frost, both of which were previously adapted into successful Chinese dramas of the same titles.
The Hidden Love adaptation stars Zhao Lusi as Sang Zhi, Chen Zheyuan as Duan Jiaxu, and Victor Ma as Sang Yan—Sang Zhi’s older brother and Duan Jiaxu’s best friend. The drama premiered on Youku on June 20, 2023, and was later released globally on Netflix on June 29, 2023. It tells a touching and heartfelt coming-of-age love story between Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu, interwoven with themes of friendship and family. The series achieved international success, ranking second among global Chinese dramas on IMDb.
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Meanwhile, The First Frost stars Bai Jingting as Sang Yan and Zhang Ruonan as Wen Yifan, his former high school classmate. The story follows their turbulent love journey from youth to adulthood. Premiering on Youku and Netflix on February 18, 2025, the drama set a record as the highest-rated Chinese series on Netflix Global and ranked sixth on the “Top TV Shows Worldwide” list on February 27, 2025. It also amassed over 25 billion views across multiple streaming platforms.
The immense domestic and global popularity of both dramas demonstrates that their original novels are among China’s most beloved literary IPs. With strong fanbases in Indonesia and abroad, Shira Media aims to bring the official Indonesian translations to readers who have long awaited access to these stories in their native language.
Novel Hidden Love dan The First Frost
Novel Hidden Love dan The First Frost versi Bahasa Indonesia
Hidden Love Part 1Hidden Love Part 2
Bundling Hidden Love Part 1 & 2
The First Frost Part 1The First Frost Part 2
The First Frost Bundling
Hidden Love & The First Frost BundlingHidden Love (偷偷藏不住 / Secretly, Secretly but Unable to Hide) was written by Zhu Yi and first serialized on the Chinese online literature platform Jinjiang Literature City in April 2020. The novel portrays a sweet yet emotional youth romance between Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu. During its serialization, each non-VIP chapter received over one million views, accumulating more than 110 billion reader points and over 70,000 bookmarks. Its first print edition sold over 120,000 copies, and the story’s popularity later expanded with a comic adaptation.
The First Frost (难哄 / Hard to Please), also by Zhu Yi, was published in December 2020. Known for its mature romance theme centered on reconciliation after heartbreak, the novel consistently ranked among the top ten romance titles on Jinjiang, with 30,000 readers giving it an average rating of 8.8/10. Its initial print run of 50,000 copies sold out within three days, while the digital version attracted over 10 million subscribers. The novel’s audio drama adaptation reached 2.3 billion total plays.
“Indonesian readers have been waiting a long time for these books, and through these translations, Shira Media is making it easier for them to enjoy the stories comfortably in their own language,” said Puput, the Hidden Love editor at Shira Media, in an interview with Layar Hijau on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
According to Puput, the translation process did not encounter major cultural or idiomatic challenges. “Both novels are set in modern times and depict everyday life, so the translators haven’t faced significant difficulties so far. However, we’ve added many footnotes to help Indonesian readers understand specific terms used in the novels,” she explained. Puput also clarified that the translation process did not involve direct supervision from the original author or any international editors.
The exact release date of the translated editions in Indonesia has yet to be announced, with a tentative schedule set for 2025. The novels will be available in print only. Although there are no plans for special editions or bonus content such as extra chapters or author interviews, Shira Media hinted at the possibility of releasing additional materials related to author Zhu Yi in the future.
Additionally, Shira Media is planning a special launch event to celebrate the releases, which will include book signings and promotional activities. Full details will be revealed once the pre-order (PO) period opens. Fans can also look forward to exclusive bundles and limited-edition merchandise available during the pre-order window.
Update December 11:
Shira Media has announced the schedule for preorder, official price and bundling benefits for Hidden Love and The First Frost novels. Check the information here.
Novel Hidden Love dan The First Frost
Novel Hidden Love dan The First Frost versi Bahasa Indonesia
Hidden Love Part 1Hidden Love Part 2Bundling Hidden Love Part 1 & 2The First Frost Part 1The First Frost Part 2The First Frost BundlingHidden Love & The First Frost Bundling
