Transmigrating to Heal His Heart

The morning sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the university lounge, casting soft golden hues across the polished marble. Joey leaned against the balcony railing, idly stirring his coffee as he watched the campus below. Students milled about, lost in their own worlds—some rushing to classes, others chatting in groups. But Joey's focus was solely on one person.

Ethan.

He stood near the library entrance, a book clutched in one hand, his other resting in the pocket of his hoodie. His posture was stiff, his expression unreadable. But Joey knew what lay beneath that mask—wariness, exhaustion, and a guarded heart that the original Joey had done nothing but hurt.

Joey sighed, rubbing his temple. His mission wasn't going to be easy. Ethan already hated him, and he couldn't blame him. The old Joey had been nothing short of a nightmare—arrogant, condescending, and constantly mocking Ethan at every opportunity. If Joey wanted to change things, he would have to start from scratch.

Just as he was about to move, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Still playing the role of the perfect young master?"

Joey turned slightly.

Noah.

The other young master stood a few feet away, leaning lazily against the opposite railing, his casual stance at odds with the sharp glint in his eyes. He looked warm, approachable even, but Joey didn't miss the flicker of something deeper—possessiveness, masked under an easygoing smile.

Joey met his gaze, mirroring his smirk. "And here I thought you'd be happy to see me reform."

Noah chuckled, stepping closer. "It's just surprising, that's all. The 'you' I knew wouldn't waste time on someone like Ethan."

Joey tilted his head. "And what kind of person do you think he is?"

Noah's expression didn't change, but his voice dropped slightly. "Someone who doesn't belong in our world."

Joey's fingers tightened around his cup. The words sat uncomfortably with him.

Before he could respond, movement from the library caught his eye. Ethan had turned in their direction. Their gazes met, and for the first time since Joey arrived in this world, he saw Ethan's full reaction to him.

Distrust.

It was a fleeting moment, but it was enough. Ethan's eyes held a guarded wariness before he coolly turned away and disappeared inside the library.

Joey exhaled, straightening. "Well, I should get going."

Noah didn't stop him but watched as he walked away.

"You really intend to change, don't you?"

Joey didn't look back, only flashing a small, knowing smile before stepping into the building.

---

The library was quiet, filled with the soft rustling of pages and the distant hum of air conditioning. Joey weaved through the bookshelves, eventually spotting Ethan seated at a table near the back, flipping through an economics textbook.

Taking a deep breath, Joey strode forward and pulled out the chair across from him. "Mind if I join you?"

Ethan didn't even look up. "You already did."

Joey grinned. "Fair point."

Silence.

Ethan continued reading, unfazed by his presence. Joey leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table.

"So, what are you studying?"

Ethan turned a page, completely ignoring him.

Joey smirked. "Wow. You really hate me, huh?"

Ethan finally looked up, his gaze sharp. "Hate is a strong word."

Joey raised an eyebrow. "So you don't hate me?"

Ethan held his stare for a beat before returning to his book. "I don't waste emotions on irrelevant people."

Ouch.

Joey leaned back, tapping his fingers against the table. "Fair. The old me was an ass."

Ethan didn't deny it.

Joey chuckled. "But people can change, you know."

Ethan scoffed. "Not overnight."

Joey shrugged. "Maybe. But it wouldn't kill you to give me a chance."

Ethan exhaled, closing his book with a soft thud. "Why are you here, Joey?"

Joey blinked. "The library? I'm a student here too, you know."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "That's not what I meant. Why are you suddenly acting different?"

Joey met his gaze, his smirk softening. "Maybe I realized I didn't like the person I was."

Ethan studied him for a long moment before shaking his head. "We'll see."

Joey took that as a small victory.

---

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room far from the campus grounds, a holographic screen flickered to life. A shadowed figure observed the scrolling text before them.

[System Analysis: Host's behavior deviation—0.3%]

[Emotional Impact on Target—Increasing]

The figure tilted their head, eyes narrowing slightly.

"So, you really are different."

A quiet chuckle echoed through the room before the screen disappeared into the darkness.