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Indirect calorimetry will show the absorption levels for each of the macros, which vary by person. You may have low protein absorption compared to the normal person. That's why you have to find your own baseline and adjust from there. Plus, you could be highly active. At one point, my baseline was 3,700 calories per day, because of how active I was with work, martial arts and the gym.

For your situation, carbs and fat would probably have been a better option for bulking. Things like honey roasted peanuts/cashews are probably the easiest option for high calories that are cheap and quick.

Also, another thought just popped into my head. How long and how consistently did you stay on that diet? If it was short term or inconsistent, you might have not given it enough time and dedication to produce results.

And separately, did you get your T levels checked? I went through a period of not being able to gain muscle because my T and crashed after using OTC steroids. Basically legal version of steroids that the Vitamin Shop uses to see before they got banned. They totally nukes my HPTA axis. Took over a year to recover.