ML's plot is actually more action-based/intrigue/politics since he's part of the triad. MC's task tends to be more emotionally involved, especially later on when he gets more invested. The author switches between the two plot lines so I never got bored or tired of the plot.

For example, MC wants to be a policeman even though he's basically part of the triad under ML. ML still helps him to study and apply for a police school. Plus, when the triad had an operation with the government (against another triad) ML tried his best to give MC a mission suitable for him even though he worries.

For ML, it's more subtle but he went from lowkey suicidal and depressed, to determined to live. I saw the other reviews and don't worry, ML doesn't stay cold-hearted for long! He's cold because he's a paranoid triad boss and MC is suspicious AF lol. Eventually I forgot he was even like that once because he's such a warm gentleman.

Hint: this novel is big on family themes.

and make peace with "his" dark history.

The big plot reveal about one of the main villains has some super duper gross in*estuous overtones but the guy is safely dead...

MC is really reborn. He was the original owner whose soul was saved by Xiao Si, then sent into another world and then brought back. MC gets to know so when he was about to deal with the last 20% of his death progress bar. After dealing with it, Xiao Si disappears together with the progress bar.

Later, all of the brothers collectively dream about MC's previous life and they are full of guilt except the fourth brother who only regrets handing him over to his other brother in MC's previous life. They even have brawl in MC and ML's home in which fourth bro wins. Then they get drunk along with ML when MC's sleeping except fourth bro, who helps MC send all of them to bed.

And in the final 2 chapters, Xiao Si is back!! As a small bun (little boy of 2 or 3) !! He uses MC's face 70% and rest very common details. When ML comes back, he sees his subordinates and elders but not MC. Those people had a face as if the sky was falling and MC wasn't there, so ML's first reaction that something happened to MC and he asks them where MC is? They tell him and then say that 'you have to be strong.' which makes ML think that something large or messy happened. He reaches near the door and hears MC's voice comforting someone to eat and ML's face get really dark while thinking of his elder's sentence. You can guess what he thought of... ML enters and get surprised and shocked to see Xiao Si who has a 70% similarity to Shi Jin (MC). Later that night, ML asks Xiao Si to change his face so that he looks like ML also. MC is surprised the next day that Xiao Si's face now has similarity of both of them, as if he was their child... Then, Xiao Si is adopted, brothers are invited who are surprised to see the boy's similarity to their youngest brother and even wonder if he's really adopted. ? Xiao Si himself chooses a new name on ML's suggestion to pick something he likes and he says, 'Jin Jun'. So cute... And the brothers reaction regarding to Xiao Si's surname is really worth to read.

the story he's been transmigrated into was told by an unreliable narrator

Fourth brother, Xiang Aoting, is my favorite. He wasn't perfect in Shi Jin's past life, but he was the only one who wasn't outright malicious and didn't despise the innocent child for no reason. When past life Shi Jin was kidnapped, he was the one who risked his entire career to go and save him. His reasons for distancing himself from the past life Shi Jin were actually reasonable, and not because he wanted to hurt him. When Shi Jin finally got answers as to why fourth brother disappeared after saving past life Shi Jin from the kidnappers (instead of staying by his side as he recovered), I was both happy and wanted to cry because Shi Jin finally knew that there was one brother who cared about him and didn't want him to suffer or die. I think this was such a huge moment for Shi Jin on his path to healing. With the other brothers, Shi Jin had to take steps to get them to recognize he was innocent and didn't deserve their hatred, but with Xiang Aoting, Shi Jin didn't need to prove anything to him. The arc with Xiang Aoting was so important for the story and Shi Jin and fourth brother will always be my favorite because he was the only brother who was a good person from the start.

after their reconciliations

but alas the drama and everything falls apart. I mean it would have been fine if there was some legit reason behind it or what not but like honestly to me he kinda just seems like he's acting spoiled... (and here's where the awkwardness with his actual age comes into play :p)

ok so the ML is annoyed he didn't tell important information to him, the boss of the organization and instead told his brother. Yes he forgot. But he's also supposed to be someone who was a police officer, supposedly a good one even maybe which is why the gold finger wanted him. So you tell me police officers don't remember to report information that's important to their squad or leader bc they don't write reports every day after a mission. Like that's what they do. So...