When You Return, I'll Say Goodbye

He fought his father for half a year, but eventually gave in. Before going abroad, he had to marry a woman he'd never even met.

He reluctantly married a traditional official's daughter.

She was sweet, gentle, and conservative, carrying the soul of another century and wearing an old-fashioned, bright-red wedding dress.

That night, he spent the whole time in his study. At dawn, he took his ticket and left for America.

Four years later, after completing his studies, he returned. At the docks, he saw the woman who was his wife in name only. She wore a fashionable flapper dress, took off her dark sunglasses, and waved to him through the crowd.

The sea breeze blew, making even that unpleasant-looking person seem much more agreeable.

He was about to hand her one of his small suitcases to carry.

But she didn't take it. He thought she might ask him for a gift, but instead she asked quite seriously, “Well, did you bring all your papers?”

He stopped in his tracks.

“You've dragged this out for almost four years. Shouldn't you come with me and get the divorce done as soon as possible?”

--

The heroine didn't wait by the bedside. She also planned to run away from the wedding, but got caught. Both the hero and heroine are rebels, the coolest kids at the forefront of their era.

Neither of them loves the other at first. A slow burn.

An alternate-history Republican-era setting.

Theme: A marriage between people whose values are incompatible is a bad idea.