I also understand, sometime in my code, I do as you suggests
ideally we should have

create a.make_equal (4) 

but we don't

now, even if grouping instructions for semantic readability is nice ...
it happens in complex code, when you quickly read the code, that your mind does not read the seconds instructions.  At least, I may need to train my mind to read in both direction quickly ;)

As I said in a global comment, ... I can live with both solution, and this is far from being that important.
and what I find more readable, may not be what other find more readable.