[BL] I Didn't Sign Up For This-Chapter 115: In Which Chen Wei Apologizes (Finally)

Then his phone started ringing.

Ryota looked at the screen, sighed, and answered. "Yes?"

Even from across the room, I could hear Chen Wei’s voice, sharp and rapid.

"I understand the situation is escalating," Ryota said calmly. "I’ve conveyed your request. Riven’s requirements are clear."

More rapid talking.

"That’s not my decision to make," Ryota said. "You’ll need to discuss it with him directly, or issue the apology he’s requested."

Chen Wei’s voice rose in pitch.

"With respect, Coalition Director, you’ve questioned their binding repeatedly, filed formal complaints, and suggested their relationship was responsible for dimensional instability. An apology isn’t unreasonable given those circumstances." Ryota’s tone stayed professional. "If you want their help, you know what’s required."

He ended the call.

"She’s very angry," he said mildly.

"Good," I said.

His phone buzzed with a text, then another, then several more in rapid succession.

Ryota read through them with increasing incredulity. "She’s... listing all the ways you’re being irresponsible. And several personal observations about both of you that I’m not going to repeat because they’re inappropriate."

"But no apology," I said.

"Correct."

"Then we’re not going."

Mara sat down at the table with her eggs. "You realize if this is the entity fragment, waiting could make it worse."

"Probably. But it’s not actively attacking anyone, it’s just existing and causing dimensional weirdness. We have time to establish that Chen Wei needs to treat us like professionals before we rush off to solve her problems."

Void created a sparkle that drifted over to Mara and popped gently near her face, apparently agreeing with my assessment.

Ryota’s phone rang again.

He looked at me. "It’s her again."

"Don’t answer."

"Riven..."

"She can send the apology or she can keep calling, those are her options."

Ryota declined the call.

It immediately rang again.

"This is going to continue," Henrik observed.

"Then she’ll get tired eventually," I said.

Three more calls came in continuously, all declined.

Then the texts started.

Ryota scrolled through them with the expression of someone watching a slow-motion disaster. "She’s now threatening to file formal complaints with... several organizations that don’t actually have jurisdiction over you."

"How creative."

"And she’s cc’d multiple coalition members on these messages, so this is becoming very public very quickly."

"That’s okay. Let everyone see how she responds when she needs help from people she’s insulted."

More texts flooded in, and Ryota’s phone was buzzing constantly now.

"Other coalition members are weighing in," he said. "Tokyo cell says they support you. Seoul cell says this is unprofessional on both sides. Beijing cell just sent a message saying Chen Wei should try basic courtesy instead of demanding help from people she’s publicly insulted."

"What did they say?"

"I just told you—"

"I know, I meant the exact wording."

Ryota scrolled. "’Perhaps Director Chen Wei should consider that respect is a prerequisite for collaboration, not an optional courtesy.’"

I grinned. "I like Beijing."

"You didn’t even know Beijing cell existed yesterday."

"That was before they supported my petty revenge."

Azryth’s hand moved to my waist, pulling me closer, his satisfaction was obvious even without words...apparently watching me hold a dimensional crisis hostage for an apology was very entertaining to him.

Ryota’s phone rang again, different number this time.

"It’s coalition leadership," he said, looking at the screen. "Director Sato."

"Answer it," I said. "This should be interesting."

Ryota put it on speaker.

"This is Ryota."

"This is Director Sato." The voice was older, measured, tired. "I’m calling about the situation in Switzerland and the... disagreement between Coalition Director Chen Wei and Riven Kael."

"I’m listening," I said.

"Ah. Riven Kael. Good. I’ve been reading the message thread." A pause. "It’s quite extensive."

"Chen Wei is thorough," I said.

"She’s also requesting that coalition leadership order you to investigate the Switzerland anomaly immediately."

"You think you can do that?" I asked.

"No. You’re not coalition personnel, we have no authority over you or your husband." Another pause. "However, I would like to point out that the situation is genuinely concerning. Fifteen civilians have developed dimensional perception in three days, the number is growing. Whatever is happening there could become a significant problem."

"I agree," I said. "Which is why I’m willing to help. After Chen Wei issues an official apology to my husband for her previous statements about our binding."

Silence on the other end.

Then a sigh.

"I see." Director Sato sounded thoughtful. "And if she doesn’t?"

"Then Switzerland is her problem to solve."

More silence.

"Give me an hour," Director Sato said finally. "I’ll speak with Chen Wei."

The call ended.

"Well," Mara said. "That happened."

"Coalition leadership is now involved in your petty revenge," Henrik observed.

"It’s not revenge, it’s justice."

"Those aren’t mutually exclusive."

Void made a pleased sound and created several sparkles that drifted around the room like confetti.

We ate breakfast, waited. Ryota’s phone stayed mercifully quiet for almost forty-five minutes.

Then it buzzed with a single message.

Ryota read it, blinked, read it again.

"She did it," he said, sounding stunned.

"Did what?" I asked.

"Chen Wei issued an official apology. It’s been sent to all coalition leadership, all cell directors, and several regional coordinators." He turned his phone so I could see.

The message was brief, formal, and clearly painful for Chen Wei to write:

*"I, Coalition Director Chen Wei, formally retract my previous statements regarding the binding between Riven Kael and Azryth Valek. My concerns were based on incomplete understanding of dimensional mechanics and personal bias rather than evidence. Demon Lord Valek has proven himself a valuable ally in preventing dimensional collapse, and their binding was instrumental in sealing the nexus and preventing reality merger. I apologize for any offense caused by my previous statements and look forward to professional collaboration on the Switzerland situation. - Chen Wei, Coalition Director, Shanghai Cell"*

I stared at it.

"She actually did it," I said.

"Director Sato must have made a convincing argument," Henrik said.

I glanced at Azryth, his expression hadn’t changed, but his hand tightened on mine, satisfied. Not about the apology itself, but about the public acknowledgment that Chen Wei had been wrong.

"Okay," I said. "Tell her we’ll investigate."

Ryota sent the message.

The response was immediate: *"Transport is arranged. Departure in two hours. Location coordinates attached."*

"She’s very efficient when she’s angry," Mara observed.

"Most people are." I looked at Azryth. "Switzerland again. For dimensional weirdness and possible entity fragments."

"At least we know where the good chocolate is," he said.

Void made an excited chirp. "Chocolate!"

"Yes, you can have chocolate," I told it.

The furball bounced enthusiastically, creating sparkles that popped like tiny fireworks.

"I’ll pack the scanner," Mara said, already moving toward her equipment. "And probably some additional monitoring gear. If this is an entity fragment, we’ll want comprehensive readings."

"I’ll map the exact location and cross-reference it with our previous visit," Henrik added, pulling up coordinates.

Ryota was checking logistics, because apparently we were actually doing this.

I looked at Azryth, his hand was still on my waist, warm and grounding.

"Worth it?" I asked quietly.

"Absolutely." His thumb brushed against my hip. "She needed to apologize. Respect isn’t optional."

Something warm settled in my chest.

"I love you," I said.

He leaned in and kissed my cheek, lingering there for a moment. "I know," he said quietly against my skin. "I love you too."

Void made a sound that was probably meant to be romantic approval but came out more like a squeaky toy being strangled.

We had two hours to prepare for whatever was happening in Switzerland.

Two hours before we walked into what was probably an entity fragment situation.

Two hours before things inevitably went sideways again.