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A secret billionaire, a forbidden alpha, a CEO with a dark past.
It sounds like tabloid fiction, but it's taking over smartphone screens around the world.
China's ultra-short dramas may only last a couple of minutes per episode,
but they're generating a billion-dollar buzz across the globe.
So what makes these fast-paced, bite-sized videos so addictive,
and why are they striking such a powerful chord with audiences worldwide?
Coming to you live from Beijing, this is Roundtable.
I'm Hei.
For today's program, I'm joined by Steve Hatherly and Gao Zhenya in the studio.
First on today's show,
from the double life of my billionaire husband to never divorce a secret billionaire heiress,
these ultra short dramas might look like pure pulp,
but they're actually rewriting the script for global entertainment.
Each episode runs merely one to two minutes, yet they're packed with high drama,
wild twists, and cliffhangers made for the smartphone generation.
Born in China's booming mobile content scene,
short dramas have grown into a cultural force at home and abroad.
In fact,