"Asta" I believe it refers to a past situation or to something that someone said just a moment ago(from what I can see in the context) Asta = aceasta => feminine Ăsta(used only in coloquial speech) = acesta => masculine Therefore you cannot use ăsta/acesta in this situation because of what you are referring back to( - Tu vorbeşti ca oamenii mari! - it's a saying thus of feminine gender) "Ăsta mă făcu să mă simt un pic ruşinat. Iar el, nemilos, adăugă:" would be possible if you were referring to the person(which is masculine)not to the situation/saying.