Chapter 16 Summary: Bakery Encounter and a Defiant Defense

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

After a month of silence following their joint proposal, Sadie and Julius resume their old rivalry. When they get math tests back, Sadie scores 100% while Julius scores 86% — a subpar result for him. Julius avoids sharing his score, but Sadie snatches his paper. Later, Sadie works at her family’s bakery. Julius unexpectedly arrives, claiming he wants bread. He stays to watch basketball with Sadie’s brother Max, ignoring her irritation. A girl flirts with Julius; he gives her his phone but unfollows her immediately. After closing, Sadie returns Julius’s forgotten phone and overhears him arguing with his brother James, who mocks him for the low test score and dismisses Sadie. Sadie steps out to defend Julius, listing his achievements and declaring that her competition is hers to insult. After Julius leaves with James, Sadie calls her friend Abigail and admits she might have romantic feelings for Julius, though she fears the emails she sent will prevent any future between them.

Key Events

Sadie and Julius exchange tense words after a month of not speaking; Sadie snatches Julius’s test paper and discovers his 86% score.
Julius arrives at Sadie’s bakery under the pretense of buying bread; he spends time with Max watching basketball.
A flirtatious girl approaches Julius; he gives her his phone but later unfollows her account.
After the bakery closes, Sadie chases after Julius to return his phone and overhears him arguing with his brother James.
James criticizes Julius for the low math score and implies that Sadie is a distraction; Julius defends her and himself.
Sadie steps out from hiding to fiercely defend Julius, stating that she is the only one allowed to attack him.
James dismisses her speech as “touching” but warns about priorities; Sadie insists that insulting her competition insults her.
Sadie returns home, unable to focus; she texts Abigail the code “blue dress” and they discuss Sadie’s possible crush on Julius.
Sadie worries that the anonymous emails she sent about Julius will prevent any chance of a relationship.

Character Development

Sadie Wen

Vulnerability beneath rivalry: Sadie’s growing attachment to Julius becomes undeniable — she feels “irrationally angry” when she sees him but disappointed when he’s absent.
Protective instinct: Sadie intervenes to defend Julius against his brother’s harsh words, showing that her feelings transcend mere competition.
Self-awareness: She admits to Abigail that she is “confused” and considers the possibility of liking Julius, even as she fears his reaction to the emails.

Julius Gong

Struggle with family pressure: The tense argument with James reveals that Julius’s competitive drive is partly a result of high family expectations. His 86% is treated as a failure.
Hidden care: Julius came to the bakery deliberately (he had searched for it), and he unfollowed the flirtatious girl immediately after giving her his phone. His body language and hesitation when Sadie returns his phone suggest deeper feelings.
Defensiveness: Julius snaps at his brother when James suggests Sadie is a distraction, insisting she is “a formidable force” — a rare moment of praise.

James Gong

Embodies the oppressive family standards that drive Julius to perfectionism. His condescending tone and dismissal of Sadie reveal a cold, transactional view of relationships.

Max Wen

Offers comic relief and perceptive observation. He correctly identifies that Julius “kept looking over at you at least thirty times,” acting as an informal narrator of the romantic tension.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Academic Competition as a Proxy for Intimacy

The exchange of test scores and the mutual knowledge of each other’s academic standing serve as a coded language. Sadie’s 100% and Julius’s 86% create a power shift that forces them to see each other outside the usual zero-sum game.

Family Pressure and Identity

Julius’s brother James represents the external expectations that shape Julius’s relentless pursuit of success. His critique of the test score and his warning about “distraction” highlight the cost of living up to family standards.

The Ambivalence of Attraction

Sadie’s internal monologue — “How do you know if your blood pressure is rising because of how annoying they are, or how attractive you find them?” — captures the central emotional conflict. The chapter blurs the line between hatred and desire, a key tension in the novel.

The Silent Phone as a Bridge

Julius “forgetting” his phone forces Sadie to chase after him and overhear the argument. The phone — especially the unfollowed social media account — symbolizes Julius’s real priorities: he dismisses the flirtatious girl but cannot leave the bakery without a reason to return.

Why This Chapter Matters

Turning point in the romance arc: Sadie openly acknowledges to Abigail that she might like Julius, moving from unconscious attraction to conscious awareness.
Deepens understanding of Julius: The confrontation with James provides the first clear insight into the family dynamics that drive Julius’s competitive nature and his emotional guardedness. His defense of Sadie (“She’s a formidable force”) hints at genuine respect.
The emails as a looming obstacle: Sadie’s fear that Julius will never forgive her for the anonymous emails injects a major complication. The chapter sets up the retreat as the potential moment for a confession.
Strengthens the theme of rivalry: By having Sadie defend Julius to James, the chapter reframes their rivalry as a partnership — “you’re insulting me” when attacking her competition. This suggests a shared identity.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Sadie step out to defend Julius when she hears James criticizing him? Sadie is driven by a mix of protectiveness and pride. She admits, “the only person who should be allowed to attack him is me,” indicating that she views Julius as uniquely hers to compete with. Her defense also stems from a desire to uphold her own honor as his rival.
What clues in this chapter suggest that Julius might have romantic feelings for Sadie? Multiple details point toward Julius’s interest: he searched for her family’s bakery, came there under a false pretense, gave his phone to the flirtatious girl only to immediately unfollow her, and staunchly defends Sadie to James, calling her “a formidable force.” His brother James also accuses him of acting differently around her.
How does the conversation with Abigail help Sadie confront her feelings? Abigail forces Sadie to reflect on specific behaviors — thinking about him constantly, wanting to impress him, feeling both anger and disappointment in his absence. She categorizes these as signs of a “serious” crush. Abigail also encourages Sadie to consider telling Julius face-to-face, planting the idea for a confession at the upcoming retreat.