Can I use before in between tests as shown in following code?

I want to compute some values before some tests. what is the best way to do that? To use "before" or call functions?

// Way 1
var expect = require('chai').expect;
describe("a test", function() {
    var val1, val2;
    before(function() {
        val1 = computeVal1();
    });

    it("should return hi1", function() {
        expect(val1).to.equal('hi1');
    });
  
    before(function() {
        val2 = computeVal2();
    });
  
    it("should return hi2", function() {
        expect(val2).to.equal('hi2');
    });
});

Is the above way is better or the below way is better?

// Way 2
var expect = require('chai').expect;
describe("a test", function() {
    var val1, val2;
    val1 = computeVal1();

    it("should return hi1", function() {
        expect(val1).to.equal('hi1');
    });


    val2 = computeVal2();

    it("should return hi2", function() {
        expect(val2).to.equal('hi2');
    });
});