Reading Joey Gossip in Her Mind: Chapter 98 - Hope You Will Not Curse Us

The celestial lord and mortal lady repeatedly found themselves alone, as if by fate. Despite her resistance, she was powerless against his forceful affections. The fairy, meanwhile, clumsily and laughably attempted to hinder their romance.

Their kiss was witnessed by the demon lord, who flew into a rage, igniting a devastating war between the celestial and demonic realms. The mortal lady, caught in the crossfire, suffered a grievous blow. Only on the brink of death did she reveal the truth: she was already dying and remained with the demon lord only to catch a final glimpse of the celestial lord, her true love from beginning to end. Overcome with sorrow, the demon lord vanished.

The celestial lord, helpless as the mortal lady died in his arms, descended into madness, his cries echoing his shattered heart. Gradually, live-comment viewership increased, and gossip about the trio diminished. Their acting, despite the cliché storyline, powerfully impacted the audience, as many online comments attested.

• "Why did it have to end this way? I'm devastated."
• "There was no other way. Everything the mortal lady did was for the good of [the celestial lord]."
• "Without her, how could the celestial lord possibly be alright?"
• "The demon lord was pitiful, too. He was genuinely in love with the mortal lady. Why wouldn't she give him a chance?"
• "Darn it. I hope after the celestial lord becomes a demon, the first one he kills is that disgusting fairy to vent his anger!"

The live audience shared these sentiments. The enraged celestial lord, cloaked in black with reddened eyes, ravaged the underworld seeking the mortal lady's reincarnation, but found only her shattered soul. He considered ending his own life out of love but, first, vowed revenge on the celestial realm.

He became the new demon lord, his first act being the fairy's murder. Another cosmic catastrophe ensued, only to be interrupted by the mortal lady's reappearance—as a goddess. She was a divinely born being, tasked with protecting the three realms. Her mortal life was part of her spiritual cultivation. The goddess urged the celestial lord to abandon his obsession and surrender, but he only desired her presence. Bound by her divine duty to be emotionless and selfless, she refused, initiating another chase.

The comments erupted in excitement:

• "Please say yes to him! He's so pitiful, so humble, and he loves you so much!"
• "I've gone crazy for you like this. Stop holding yourself back. Face your own feelings."
• "The way he looks at you is enough to break our hearts, even though we're just watching."
• "Wait Where's my demon lord? Where's my idol? Isn't that a bit unfair?"

Hendrick steered the play toward its climax. The cliché plot continued: the demon lord reappeared with a warning of an obliterating force threatening the three realms. The goddess sensed the need for her sacrifice, though both lords initially resisted. The demon lord accepted the inevitability; the celestial lord refused to lose her again, imprisoning her. He then threatened the three realms' destruction if she sacrificed herself. The goddess waited until the demon lord was nearly killed before revealing herself. A coalition of celestials and demons presented her with a heavenly weapon, hoping she would kill the celestial lord, who was, ironically, the only one who could save the world. Despite the perfect opportunity, the goddess couldn't bring herself to harm him, giving up.

Facing the crisis, the goddess threatened self-destruction unless the celestial lord released her. Seeing her tears, he relented:

"You, goddess, are revered and worshipped, yet I made you cry. It was my mistake. But remember, my love for you surpasses all devotion. It's an eternal faith."

He sacrificed himself, collapsing into her arms. Overwhelmed, she confessed her love. Tranquility returned to the three realms. The goddess, using a sliver of her soul, waited ten thousand years for his return.

• "I'm absolutely devastated!"
• "Thank goodness it ended well!"
• "I have to admit, even though it's pretty cliché, I genuinely shed tears."
• "'My love for you is eternal faith.' It's so romantic and so intense!"

The messages peaked. The live audience applauded; the Quirk family exchanged worried glances.

• "They should be fine, right?" David said.
• "It seems like this is quite well-received," Selena commented.
• "You have to believe in Bella and Chris! Didn't they create a miracle last time?" Evian encouraged.

Backstage, Dance cautiously monitored online reactions, fearing betrayal. She had, however, managed Maverick's affairs so well that there was nothing scandalous to use against him.

• "At last, it's our turn!" Rosalie exclaimed.
• "There's going to be a good show soon," Thalia said.

Hayden seemed excited yet worried, piquing Danielle's curiosity.

• "What genre is your group's script?" she asked.
• "Well… it's medieval fantasy," Hayden revealed.

Danielle was shocked; Isabella's group’s costumes suggested an ordinary mortal story. Maverick and Hendrick received congratulations, even greeting Team A-list. Maverick was in a good mood; Isabella and Christopher exchanged significant glances. Isabella thought, Thanks for the well-wishes, buddy! We'll do our best! Christopher thought, I just hope you won't curse at us later!

The stage lights dimmed as performers entered. Taylor and Riley watched the viewership, hoping for a smooth episode. The narrator's line shattered their hopes:

"When the deities fell in love, the three realms were unsettled. When deities were in love, the living beings suffered!"

Tension filled the air. Everyone was stunned by the familiar theme.

• "Medieval fantasy again? Aren't they worried about the comparison?"
• "Didn't the villainous fairy say those lines too? Was it intentional?"
• "I don't think so. It's a pretty common line."
• "Let's wait and see. Our idols haven't upset them. They won't deliberately cause trouble, will they?"

The lights flared. Onstage, a harmonious village scene unfolded: Christopher tending fields, Isabella weaving, grandparents caring for children. A sudden mist emerged, a large screen lit up showing masked figures in ancient clothing—a familiar standoff between figures in white and black, with a woman pleading for peace. Lightning, thunder, and an earthquake-like tremor ensued. The onstage villagers froze, consumed by despair, embracing in fear as a monstrous force engulfed everything on the screen.