Mi Box MDZ-22-AB + Flirc USB + Universal IR remote control, will it work?!

Hey, guys!

I have a question that is driving me crazy. I bought a backlit universal remote control to substitute the remote control that comes with the Mi Box. It is my understanding that the Mi Box 4 doesn't have IR and its remote works via bluetooth. The remote I bought has both IR and Bluetooth. Now, it is my understanding that I can't use the learning function, as it has no Infrared remote to learn from. What happens is that once the Mi Box is powered on, my universal remote will automatically connect and work as it should, it mimics all the basic functions... but, this only happens AFTER the Mi Box is powered on, if it's not powered on, I can press all I want the power button in the universal remote control, but nothing happens, unlike with the Mi Remote, which seems to never lose connection.

This is the first part I don't get, why does the universal remote control loses connection and the Mi Remote doesn't?

And now for the second part... in this scenario, would the Flirc USB solve my problem?

HDMI CEC is activated on both ends, and the television powers on once I click the power button on the Mi Remote, but the Mi Box doesn't connect the other way around, i.e. if both are powered off, and I press the power button on the TV. The TV will turn on, but it won't turn on the box via HDMI, as it is reading no signal from it.

Thanks for your help in advance!

Kind regards,

Tiago