Willowshore's lumber bosses thought very highly of themselves, and the idea of mingling with the “common folk” rankled them. Aristocrat Qing Mai-Lai's solution was the establishment of this fine structure, close to the lumber lords' estates.
The Cerulean Teahouse took off quickly, thanks to its offerings of extravagant food, drinks, and performances. However, once the novelty wore off, business quickly died. Still, Mai-Lai persevered, first by changing the teahouse's focus to banquet catering, then by collaborating with The Leshy's Salon as a storefront, and finally as a flexible bed-and-breakfast. Just days after Mai-Lai finally paid off the loan on the property, news of Lung Wa's collapse reached Willowshore.
Mai-Lai called it quits at that point and announced her retirement, but her attempts to pass on control of the Teahouse to family met with complications when it became apparent none of her relations wanted to move to Willowshore. When Mai-Lai passed away early in the previous winter, ownership of the business was undetermined, for Mai-Lai never submitted a will.