CNBC AI News, July 10 – China’s booming micro-drama market, fueled by quick consumption and social media platforms, continues to see explosive growth. However, the surge is accompanied by concerns over content quality and originality, with producers frequently leveraging popular events, trending topics, and public figures to capture fleeting viewer attention.
A recent industry report highlights the controversial practices of one such mini-series titled “Rehire Me: The Beauty CEO’s Plea After My Layoff”. Industry analysts and media scrutiny point to unmistakable parallels between its fictional corporate plotlines and real-world Chinese tech giants Huawei and Xiaomi.
The series centers on lead character “Yu Chengdong” (余程冬) – a name strikingly similar to Huawei’s high-profile executive Yu Chengdong (余承东). The plot involves Yu’s departure from the fictional “Tengyuan Group,” where he developed autonomous driving systems, to join rival “Xiaomi Group” (骁米集团, phonetically close to “Xiaomi”). He is lured by an offer from Xiaomi Group’s Chairman, named “Su Qi” (苏柒), which audibly resembles Xiaomi’s successful electric car model, the SU7. The compensation package reportedly included a significant 49% equity stake and a lucrative salary.
The deliberate naming and thematic choices have drawn criticism, interpreting them as thinly-veiled attempts to capitalize on the public personas of the tech leaders and the brands they represent.
“You really have to check your brain at the door watching these short dramas. The plot twists defy belief,” commented one viewer online, reflecting a common sentiment about the often-outlandish narratives employed in the genre.
Distributed on the popular short-video platform Douyin under the producer handle “[Short Drama Channel Name Removed]”, the series spans 32 episodes. Mirroring a common micro-drama monetization strategy, the first 8 episodes are free, with viewing access to subsequent episodes requiring payment.
Despite the controversy or perhaps because of it, the drama has garnered significant traction, surpassing 810,000 views prior to publication.
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