Return window closing, can a dispute be reopened?

TL;DR: Issue with seller not confirming high return shipping fee, AliExpress took 6 days to reply, leaving me only 1 day before the return window and dispute closes. Currently trying to get a free return label, but dispute will likely close before I receive a reply. Can a dispute be reopened after the return window expires? What's your experience?

I went to the post office the business day following the dispute resolution of Refund and Return, Return shipping paid by: Seller, and got my shipping fee estimate ($100+!!! My order itself is also $100+!), but the seller wouldn't confirm the return shipping fee. They scammed me with a fake product, and now they're being uncooperative over chat, so I can't trust them. Also, I just don't want to pay out-of-pocket since I've seen so many posts where people end up not getting their order or shipping refunded, or getting a useless coupon.

I contacted customer service twice, asking if they could change it to just refund or provide a free return label, but they didn't reply until six days after initially reaching out, when I have less than two days to do the return. After receiving their email an hour ago, I contacted customer service again to ask them to reconsider providing me a return label. Since they usually take 48 hours to reply, or in my case almost a week, my dispute will likely close before I receive a reply.

Has anyone been in this situation before? Can a dispute be reopened in this case, as the agent claimed? What are people's experience with reopening a dispute after a Refund & Return dispute expired? Should I just return the item now, instead of waiting for a reply? Also, I'm looking for tips on how to navigate this whole situation, if anything. I'm so stressed by this whole situation. Thanks for reading.