Konoha Year 36, May 22, night.
Akaseki's "Immersion" had reached a critical moment—the maid who had been currying favor with the fake young master falsely accused Hong Yan. Just when it seemed he had no way to explain himself...
"To focus on my studies, I've actually been wearing a male chastity cage all this time. I haven't even done any handwork... I put the key in a time capsule and buried it under the tree in the yard. There's absolutely no way I had time to dig it up and bury it again, so... you're framing me!"
"What? You actually... how is that possible?"
"Someone, dig up that time capsule and bring it to me!"
"Master! The key really is inside!"
"This is a custom-made time capsule. There's only one key..."
Hong Yan's proof that he "couldn't have done it" sent even Akaseki's well-tested emotions into violent upheaval...
"Overspread Burning" finally broke through 10%!
Yes, "Overspread Burning." This was quite simply the greatest source of "Happiness" Akaseki had experienced lately.
It even made Akaseki feel insignificant—there really were so many things in this world he couldn't understand...
A month later in the story, Hong Yan was framed for theft again.
He had clearly just picked up the ring and was about to turn it over to Mrs. Hong, but...
The moment Akaseki saw the butler storming toward him, he knew something was wrong!
But Hong Yan lived up to his role as a protagonist who learned as he went. He immediately realized he was being framed again, then used a sneeze as cover to slip the ring into his mouth. Once he confirmed it was a setup, he swallowed it at once—if Mrs. Hong had come looking for the ring, he could have quietly taken it back out instead.