Self-Statement

Hesta lowered her eyes and thought for a while.

"If it were you, you wouldn't do anything, would you?"

"True enough." Lin Jiao looked ahead. "I've never encouraged people to spend their energy on things that are destined to yield no response... Do you never consider that before you act?"

Hesta did not answer. Even though Lin Jiao had not said it outright, she still heard the implication—You won't get the result you want from this.

"Did you design this year's recruitment emblem?" Hesta asked.

"What's wrong?"

"I wanted to meet the person who pried open an iron gate with books," Hesta said softly. "But you don't seem like someone who would invest time in a literary club... Are you?"

"I'm not." Lin Jiao laughed. "But the poetry society isn't entirely a literary club."

That night, Hesta enjoyed herself more than she had expected.

On the poetry society's first night, nobody discussed literature; they only talked about life. During the first round of introductions, Lin Jiao said that everyone would need to time the final minute of their speech and talk about their strengths. Within sixty seconds, they were to list as many of their own brilliant and distinctive qualities as possible. The top three would each receive a small gift the poetry society had prepared for new members.

"...Does anyone have any questions about this?" Lin Jiao noticed the puzzled expression on Hesta's face. "Jane?"

"No questions. I'm just not sure what the point of putting something like this in a self-introduction is."

"It can help others better understand your strengths," Cheng Xiaoshu said. "And it's also an opportunity to examine yourself from a positive perspective."

"All right." Hesta's gaze remained doubtful. "I'll give it a try."

After five minutes of preparation, the introductions officially began. The first