I’ll Work Hard!

After Wei Wuxian is falsely accused of assault after witnessing a crime he is sent to be under the guardianship of one Lan Qiren. Qiren isn't exactly friendly to Wei Ying despite having been friends with his parents, but he warms up eventually. On his first day of school he sees Yanli being harassed by Wen Chao until Jiang Cheng runs up to protect her. They warn Wei Ying away from that creep and eventually all three of them end up falling into the palace together. Jiang Cheng's arm was broken by Wen Chao's bodyguard last year and it made him lose his sports scholarship so he's been exceedingly bitter. And the rumors they started about Jiang Yanli ruined the reputation of the Jiangs and left them pretty friendless. So the three of them team up to take down Wen Chao and make him confess his crimes.

The trio runs into Jin Zixuan after, the young man wanting to know that Yanli is okay after learning that she was being threatened and not sleeping with whoever Wen Chao said she was. Wei Ying and Jiang Chang are both unimpressed with his weakness and give him a hard time until it become clear that there is more going on. Jin Zixun has been sabotaging all of Zixuan's work, taking credit for his projects and just all around steamrolling him, but Zixuan won't speak up because he's still family. So the trio have their next target, with Zixuan being dragged along and seeing the true extent of his cousin's horrible crimes. He and Yanli begin dating after.

Before they can find their next target Nie Huaisang approaches them with proof of their activities and says that he'll reveal them unless they do a favor for him. So they take out local thug Xue Yang who is working in money laundering and sex trafficking. Little did they know that this target was set up just to cause Jin Guangshan issues by cutting off his money and women. And decreasing one of his brother's headaches, he's getting worried about Mingjue and wants the thieves of heart in back pocket just in case. He didn't realize that meant joining them!

Lan Qiren accidently gives them their next target in the form of his nephew, a brilliant young man who has been wasting away after the death of his mother. A suicide that he was blamed for that has left him with severe agoraphobia and he now never leaves his home nor changes from wearing anything except mourning white. His brother Lan Xichen helps give them access to Wangji and they promise to steal his heart and prove that he is not some monster who killed his mother. Although Wei Ying is certainly interested in stealing more than just the twisted desires of his heart.

Wen Ning was a complete accident, the shy stuttering boy was absolutely overlooked by everyone around him. Unless someone wanted a punching bag for everyone named Wen. But when the group sees him being abused by his fiance, a sham marriage that was used to facilitate a business merger, Wei Wuxian decides to step in and save him. They take him to Wen Qing who tells them that their Uncle is well aware that he's sending Wen Ning to what is likely his death, but doesn't care since all he wants is more power. Wen Ning fails to awaken his full persona until the final fight, standing up to his uncle and unleashing the full extent of abilities. It should have been like every other target, and then Wen Rouhan dies, and the phantom thieves are accused of his murder.

Jin Guangyao has been a minor annoyance for a while now, and then he reveals that he's a persona user too. He's terrified about how he's been forced to use it to take out his father's enemies and he wants to join the good guys. He works with Mingjiu and has been told to try and get him accused of corruption to get him off the case of the Phantom Thieves so it can be handed to Guangyao instead and he can sweep it under the rug. The only problem is Mingjiu has become too obsessed with the case and he's becoming out of control over it, so they need to make him have a change of heart so that he can get back on the track of justice. Because right now he's been revealing to Huaisang that he doesn't care what it takes he will see them prosecuted or hunt them down himself if they think they can keep away from him.

Jin Guangyao is a valuable asset to the team, helping them clear the palace with clever ease and talent. But trouble strikes after they manage to get the treasure. There's an ambush and the thieves are surrounded. With Wei Wuxian being captured and taken into custody. Wei Wuxian is beaten and drugged as corrupt guards try to force him to sign a confession. And then Nie Mingjiu shows up to interrogate Wei Wuxian. After talking to him about everything that has happened and revealing that Mingjiu's own brother is one of them, he tells the prosecuter that he knew the thieves were going to be betrayed and he can help Mingjiu get the proof he needs if he helps them. Which comes in handy after Jin Guangyao reappears and kills Wei Wuxian. Which ended up being all according to plan.

With Guangyao having killed Wei Wuxian's cognition but believing he'd gotten the real thing, the team is ready to take down the reason behind all of this, the man who lead to the false accusation against Wei Wuxian in the first place, Jin Guangshan. They get through his palace and suceed in pulling off the change of heart, making Jin Guangshun drag his son down with him in confessing all of his crimes. Wei Wuxian is cleared of all charges with Nie Mingjiu's help and the gang decide to spend their summer on a road trip.

Semester 3 spoilers!

Maruki - Lan Xichen